Tens of thousands of people were left without electricity after a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 rocked the extreme northern coast of California early on Tuesday morning (Dec. 20).
The earthquake, which occurred at 2.30 am PST and was followed by roughly 80 aftershocks, was centered about 350 km north of San Francisco offshore of Humboldt County, a primarily rural region famed for its redwood forests, local fisheries, the lumber industry, and dairy farms.
According to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, at least 12 individuals were hurt, and two more passed away due to "medical emergencies" that happened during or right after the earthquake. The area is also known for having frequent earthquakes, though the most recent quake seemed to have caused more damage than others in recent years.
Authorities say the earthquake on Tuesday caused at least two other buildings to collapse and started a fire in one structure by cutting off the gas supply to a hot-water heater. According to fire officials, the fire was swiftly put out and a resident who had been temporarily trapped inside the house was rescued by fire crews.
About two dozen homes were "red-tagged," or deemed unfit for habitation, due to their severe damage. The majority were in Rio Dell, a community of around 3,400 people that were hardest hit by the earthquake.
Water service to the entire neighborhood was disrupted, and City Manager Kyle Knopp predicted that after housing inspectors evaluated all the structural damage there, 100 to 150 residents would probably end up being evicted.
The electric grid monitoring website PowerOutage.us estimates that 79,000 homes and businesses were without power in the area immediately following the earthquake.
Four significant fractures were found on a bridge that spans the Eel River just outside Ferndale, a charming town famous for its Victorian stores and residences designed in the manner of gingerbread. The California Highway Patrol added that the foundation of the road there was susceptible to sliding. At least four roads in Humboldt County were reported to be closed by authorities owing to earthquake damage.
About 3 million people living in northern California received electronic signals from California's earthquake early warning system 10 seconds before any shaking was detected, according to state emergency chief Mark Ghilarducci. While California experiences frequent earthquakes, tremors with a magnitude of 6.4 are less frequent and could be harmful.
