A 5.6-magnitude earthquake hits northern Mendocino County california Communities across the region were shaken Wednesday morning, triggering earthquake warnings and causing minor damage, power outages and multiple aftershocks.
The earthquake occurred near Willits, north of Ukiah, at about 8:10 a.m. PDT at a preliminary depth of about 5 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The agency also reported several aftershocks following the initial quake.
Which areas are affected?
The quake’s epicenter was near Willits in Mendocino County, but shaking was felt farther away.
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Residents in Ukiah, Redwood Valley, San Jose, Sacramento and some areas reported feeling the earthquake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey san francisco bay area.
Many people in Northern California received earthquake alerts through the MyShake app and the USGS ShakeAlert system. An alert warned users that shaking could intensify, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Damage and power outages reported
Early reports indicate limited but significant damage to affected areas.
The quake cracked walls, knocked items off shelves, temporarily closed at least one business and left thousands without power while emergency crews checked, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Ukiah Deputy City Manager Shannon Riley told ABC10 there were no reports of major injuries or major structural damage.
Reilly said residents have reported photos falling off walls and similar minor incidents, while city staff are inspecting historic buildings and public infrastructure as a precaution.
The New York Post noted that an earthquake of this magnitude could cause mild to moderate structural damage, especially to older or poorly constructed buildings, including cracked walls, shattered windows and collapsed furniture.
Officials monitor situation
governor of california Gavin NewsomThe governor has been informed of the earthquake and state officials are coordinating with emergency personnel to assess potential impacts, his office said.
Meanwhile, the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) said it was actively monitoring the situation and reminded residents to “drop, cover and hold on” during an earthquake.
Is there a tsunami threat?
Authorities said there was no tsunami risk from the earthquake.
The National Tsunami Warning Center and the U.S. Tsunami Warning System both confirmed that no tsunami warnings, advisories, watches or threats were issued following the earthquake.
Officials continue to monitor the area as aftershocks are still possible.
The earthquake follows another major seismic event in California earlier this month. The state’s previous earthquake of magnitude 5.0 or greater occurred on June 3, when a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck the North Shore near Petrolia in Humboldt County, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
