Early Tuesday morning, the residents of Eureka, California were awoken by a 6.4-magnitude earthquake that rocked the area. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, this was the strongest earthquake that California had seen in years. Reports indicate that at least two people were injured during the quake, but thankfully no fatalities have been reported.
The quake struck just after 2:30 am local time on Tuesday. It measured 6.4 on the Richter Scale and was felt throughout Northern California and even as far away as Nevada and Oregon. According to Caleb Carsey with the California Highway Patrol in Humboldt County, it was a “pretty violent” quake that caused extensive damage in some areas.
At least two people have been reported injured due to the quake; however, both are expected to make a full recovery with one person sustaining a broken hip, while another suffered from a head injury.
In addition to causing injuries for some, tens of thousands of residents have also been left without power due to damaged power lines and other infrastructure affected by the quake. Many businesses were closed on Tuesday morning due to safety concerns which further highlights how serious this situation is for those living in Northern California. It is currently unknown when power will be fully restored as crews continue assessing damages from around town and making repairs where necessary. In addition, local officials are warning residents about potential gas leaks in some areas so caution is being urged until everything can be checked out thoroughly by professionals.
Following the quake, there have been up to 80 smaller aftershocks, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci said, per CNN. According to the National Tsunami Warning Center, there’s no threat of tsunami. Just days earlier, a magnitude 3.6 earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay Area early Saturday morning.
