A magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck off the coast of California, triggering a brief tsunami warning for the Northern Californian and southern Oregon coast. The earthquake occurred around 10:44 a.m. about 62 miles west of Ferndale, California. The tsunami warning was issued for the coast from Davenport, California to the border between Douglas and Lane counties in Oregon, but was canceled by the Tsunami Warning Center shortly after. The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services was activated to coordinate the response.
In Humboldt County, where the earthquake was closest to, there were reports of broken water mains, broken windows, and houses off their foundation, but no injuries or fatalities were reported. Around 10,000 people were without power in Humboldt County. Earthquakes can trigger tsunamis by displacing the sea floor and causing waves to rush towards shore. This tsunami warning indicated that significant inundation and coastal flooding were expected.
The earthquake was classified as a strike-slip earthquake, which occurs when two plates slide past one another. Harold Tobin, the director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, provided this information about the earthquake. Governor Gavin Newsom had been briefed on the quake and tsunami warnings and his office issued a statement regarding the situation.
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