Initial damage from Northern California earthquake appears minimal

(NewsNation) — An earthquake felt crossed Northern California Thursday greeting initially appeared to origin insignificant harm crossed the affected areas.

The quake struck precocious greeting with a preliminary magnitude of 6.6, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). However, the USGS aboriginal revised that magnitude to 7.0 and past to 7.3.

At slightest 5.3 cardinal radical successful California were nether a tsunami informing aft the earthquake, the USGS said successful a yellowish alert, which predicted localized but minimal damage.

The quake struck successful the Pacific Ocean astir 5 1/2 miles westbound of Ferndale, a tiny metropolis successful coastal Humboldt County, and was followed by smaller aftershocks that were felt arsenic acold southbound arsenic San Francisco, wherever residents felt a rolling question for respective seconds. 

Minor harm has been reported arsenic of Thursday afternoon. 

Local quality outlets and reporters posted videos connected societal media showing products knocked disconnected shelves and scattered connected the floors of grocery stores.

The doorway of a section Ferndale hotel appeared to person torn off, and respective bottles were shattered implicit the hotel’s barroom floor. The edifice owners did not instantly instrumentality a telephone telephone from NewsNation. 

More than 1.3 cardinal radical lived adjacent capable to the quake that they could person felt it, the USGS estimated. The bureau is forecasting aftershocks registering 3.0 oregon greater could hap passim the upcoming week.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom activated the State Operations Center soon aft the deed to coordinate accusation and effect efforts with authorities and section archetypal responders. 

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, known arsenic BART, had stopped postulation successful each directions done the underwater passageway betwixt San Francisco and Oakland.

The San Francisco Zoo announced it was closing owed to a nationalist upwind exigency and tsunami warning. Guests were evacuated and animals secured arsenic unit moved to higher ground.

The earthquake was the largest to deed Northern California since the 1992 Cape Mendocino earthquake, and it besides had an epicenter successful Humboldt County.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.