The epicenter was near Petrolia, in Humboldt County, the USGS said.
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake was reported off the coast of Northern California on Thursday, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The epicenter of the “strong” quake was off the coast near Petrolia, in Humboldt County, the USGS said.
Also, a tsunami warning that had been issued for coastal areas in California and Oregon, including San Francisco, was canceled just before noon local time.
After an earthquake hit the area, products are strewn across the flow at the Shelter Cove General Store in Whitethorn, Calif., on Dec. 5, 2024.
Shelter Cove General Store
“The tsunami Warning is canceled for the coastal areas of California and Oregon,” the National Tsunami Warning Center wrote on X. “No tsunami danger presently exists for this area.”
The warning had been in effect from Davenport, California, to Douglas/Lane Line Oregon, the National Tsunami Warning Center said.
Police in Berkeley, California, had issued an evacuation order for parts of the city “due to a tsunami coming to West Berkeley.” The order was subsequently lifted after the tsunami warning was canceled.
“Evacuation orders for West Berkeley have been lifted. It is safe to return to the area,” city officials said.
A handout shakemap made available by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows the location of a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hitting off the coast of Cape Mendocino, Calif., on Dec. 5, 2024. The earthquake was recorded at a depth of 0.6 kilometres, the USGS said.
USGS Handout via EPA via Shutterstock
The earthquake was reported at 10:44 a.m. local time, according to the National Tsunami Warning Center.
There has been a “robust” aftershock sequence in its wake, Stephen DeLong, a geologist in the USGS Earthquake Science Center, said during a press briefing Thursday afternoon.
More than 30 aftershocks have been reported in the region, including a 4.3 magnitude earthquake near Petrolia, according to the USGS.
In this screen grab from a video, cars line Highway 1 in Pacificia, California, as people evacuate the area after an earthquake hit on Dec. 5, 2024.
There are no detailed reports on damage or landslides due to the earthquakes at this time, DeLong said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom told reporters that damage assessments are underway. He said he signed a state of emergency declaration to provide more resources to the response as needed.
Minor damage has been reported in Humboldt County, including to roofs in Ferndale, according to the city manager. In Rio Dell, there are cracks in roads and a gas leak at a middle school has since been resolved, Mayor Pro Tem Amanda Carter told ABC News.
No injuries have been reported at this time, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.
A crack is seen on Blue Slide Road in Rio Dell, California, following a 7.0-magnitude earthquake, Dec. 5, 2024.
Courtesy city of Rio Dell
Shake alerts in the USGS’s earthquake early warning system were delivered as far north as Lincoln City, Oregon, and as far south as Salinas, California, the agency said.
“System was activated and performed as designed,” the USGS said.
At least half a million people received the alerts, according to the USGS.
A pool overflows during an earthquake in Chico, Calif., on Dec. 5, 2024.
Regarding aftershocks, there is currently a 5% chance of a magnitude 6 or larger earthquake occurring in the next week, and a 34% chance of a magnitude 5 quake occurring in that time frame, the USGS said.
USGS officials advised people to be prepared for aftershocks in the coming days and weeks.
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the earthquake, according to a White House spokesperson.
“At his direction, Senior Administration and FEMA Regional officials are in touch with their state and local counterparts in California and Oregon,” the spokesperson, Jeremy Edwards, said in a statement. “We stand ready to provide further support as needed — at this time there are no requests for federal assistance.”
ABC News’ Jenna Harrison and Jennifer Watts contributed to this report.
