A strong earthquake has struck the US West Coast, triggering urgent warnings for millions to shelter in place during the seismic shockwaves.
The US Geological Survey said a magnitude 5.6 quake erupted in Northern California at 11.10am ET on Wednesday, less than 120 miles north of San Francisco.
Residents in California, Nevada and Oregon reported feeling the shaking caused by the major seismic event.
While the strongest shaking was reported right at the quake’s epicenter near Redwood Valley, the tremors traveled more than 600 miles up and down the West Coast, reaching Coos Bay, Oregon in the north and Salinas, California in the south.
That range includes the entire San Francisco Bay Area, home to more than seven million people, and affecting multiple cities including San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Oakland, Stockton and Modesto.
Moneca Vargas at Saint Mary’s Catholic School in Ukiah told KTVU: ‘That was the biggest earthquake I have felt in my life, and I’ve lived in Ukiah for most of my 54 years. My whole house shook.’
Other residents close to the source in Northern California compared the shockwaves to a ‘freight train’ rolling through their homes, causing items to fall from shelves and officials to sound the official earthquake alert system for quakes stronger than magnitude 4.5.
While the shockwaves reached level seven in certain areas, meaning ‘very strong’ shaking and moderate damage, according to USGS, there have been no reports of injuries at this time.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck California on Wednesday, June 24
Residents throughout the California Bay Area, Nevada’s Carson City and southern Oregon felt the shaking on Wednesday
Since the initial quake, over six aftershocks have been recorded in less than two hours, all measuring stronger than magnitude 2.0.
USGS has warned that there is a nearly 90 percent chance of another earthquake stronger than magnitude 3.0 erupting in the region over the next week.
Experts added there is a 40 percent risk of a quake stronger than magnitude 4.0 and a slim-but-not-impossible seven percent chance of another quake over magnitude 5.0 striking the West Coast this week.
The epicenter of Wednesday’s earthquake was recorded within seven miles of the Maacama Fault zone.
The Maacama is an major active strike-slip fault capable of causing strong shaking and damage in areas like Mendocino and Sonoma counties, where it runs through rural communities and wine country.
Making the fault even more of a concern to locals is the fact that it is part of the larger San Andreas Fault system, the infamous 800-mile-long fault running through much of California.
USGS scientists have documented that the Maacama Fault has produced large earthquakes in the past and could potentially generate one in the future which could exceed magnitude 7.0 in strength.
According to a 2015 report, there is a 95 percent probability that at least one major quake, stronger than magnitude 6.7, will strike somewhere in the Bay Area by 2043.
This is a breaking story. More details to follow.
Thousands of Americans along the West Coast received an official warning message as the earthquake struck California, originally calling the event a magnitude 6.0 quake
USGS scientists have previously warned that an earthquake stronger than magnitude 6.7 has a 95 percent chance of striking near the Bay Area (Pictured) by 2043
