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At least 2 dead and 11 injured after earthquake, sheriff's office says
From CNN's Stella Chan
At least two people are dead after Tuesday’s 6.4 magnitude quake that shook the northern California, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff’sOffice.
“Approximately 11 individuals have been reported as injured,” an update from the county’swebsite said. “Additionally, two individuals have died as a result of medical emergencies occurring during and/or just following the earthquake. Power remains off for over 70,000 customers in the county. Pacific Gas and Electric Company is actively working to restore power with no estimated time of restoration.”
Officials are expected to give an update later Tuesday.
Chances for strong aftershocks in Northern California continue into next week, official says
Scientists are warning people in Northern California to prepare for the possibility of strong aftershocks into next week, said Cynthia Pridmore of the California Geological Survey Department of Conservation.
It comes after state officials said there have been up to 80 aftershocks already reported in the wake of a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that shook Northern California early Tuesday.
“There is approximately a 13% chance within the next week of a magnitude 5 or larger, so people do need to be prepared, especially if they are in weakened structures, to be mindful of where they’re staying," she said.
The US Geological Survey's most recent aftershock forecast adds that in addition to a chance for a magnitude 5 quake, "there is a more than 99% chance of magnitude 3 and above aftershocks within the next week,and it is most likely that 5 to 24 of these will occur."
Aftershocks that are magnitude 3 and higher aftershocks are large enough to be felt nearby, the USGA said, adding that magnitude 5 is enough to do damage.
Pridmore suggested those living in the area make sure their emergency kit is ready and plans are in place if there is another earthquake.
As officials assess the damage that has already been done, Pridmore said the California Geological Survey Department of Conservation is sending scientists and engineers to document the earthquake and its characteristics.
Up to 80 aftershocks felt in Northern California, including a 4.6 magnitude quake
Up to 80 aftershocks rattled parts of Northern California after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit the area early Tuesday, according to California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci.
The largest aftershock was a 4.6 magnitude quake which happened in Rio Dell, which he described as one of the “hardest hit areas."
The director said that assessment is still ongoing. He said specifically water main breaks and other damage has been reported in the city of Fortuna.
The state's operational center will stay working until at least tonight to help people navigate through damage from the earthquake and aftershocks, Ghilarducci said.
No fatalities reported so far following earthquake, authorities say
There were some injuries reported following the 6.4 magnitude earthquake in Humboldt County, California, according to California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci.
"There has been at least one structure fire and we also know that there were a couple homes that may have been knocked off their foundation or partially collapsed," he said Tuesday in a news briefing, adding that there has also been non-structural damage, including from plates, bookshelves and other household items.
"We have had some injuries associated with this particular event. We're still assessing the total numbers," he said, adding that the injuries ranged from minor to moderate.
There have been "no confirmed numbers of fatalities as of yet," he noted.
California's early warning system worked as expected, emergency services director says
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Director Mark Ghilarducci said the state's new earthquake early warning system worked as expected when a 6.4 magnitudeearthquake hit regions in the northern part of the state.
Ghilarducci said the system sent out alerts 10 seconds before the earthquake was felt. That alert reached nearly 3 million people in the state, he said at a news conference Tuesday.
That 10-second warning gave people a chance to get to a safe place, he said.
"The system did operate as we had hoped and as we’ve been working to design," the director added, saying the earthquake was "felt widely."
Some background: The Earthquake Warning California system uses ground motion sensors to detect earthquakes before people can feel them, according to its website.
Once those sensors have the data, a warning is then pushed to people's phones via an app, as well as on Government Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).
Today's earthquake rattled Northern California. Here's how intense it was.
Take a look at how Tuesday's 6.4 magnitude earthquake affected different parts of Northern California — and its varying levels of intensity.
Smaller quakes are being reported in Northern California. Here's what to know about aftershocks
More than three dozen smaller earthquakes have been reported around the in Northern California territory where a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck early Tuesday, the US Geological Survey reported.
These smaller movements are known as aftershocks. Here's what to know about them as the area continues to assess damage.
What is an aftershock? An aftershock is a smaller earthquake that happens in the same general area as the larger activity, according to the US Geological Survey (UGS). These smaller earthquakes are caused by the fault readjusting from the big earthquake, USGS says on its website.
The seismology lab at UC Berkley puts it like this:
"Imagine you and a friend sliding a large wooden dresser to a new location across a wood or tile floor. After it's in place, you may hear small popping or squeaking noises coming from it as it settles," it explains on its website, referring to the way the plates settle into their new positions after they were shaken up by the main earthquake —creating aftershocks."
USGS says the frequency of these aftershocks decrease with time.
What is the difference between and aftershock and a "swarm?" What is happening in Northern California Tuesday has been defined as an earthquake and aftershocks because there was a main, larger, identifiable "mainshock," or main earthquake.
"A swarm, on the other hand, is a sequence of mostly small earthquakes with no identifiable mainshock. Swarms are usually short-lived, but they can continue for days, weeks, or sometimes even months. They often recur at the same locations. Most swarms are associated with geothermal activity," USGS says.
About 72% of Humboldt County is without power
More than 72%of customers are without power in Humboldt County, California, following a6.4 magnitudeearthquake earlier Tuesday.
According topoweroutage.us, 71,763 customers have been without power as of 8:39 a.m. PT. This is significantly increase from 55,176 customers who had lost power as of 3:15 a.m. PT.
More than 3 dozen smaller quakes struck the area after Tuesday's main temblor, USGS says
From CNN's Jason Hanna,Caroll AlvaradoandStella Chan
After the 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Northern California’s Eureka area early Tuesday, more than three dozen smaller quakes impacted the territory afterward, the US Geological Survey reported.
Some were as powerful as a 4.6 magnitude earthquake.
The main quake also produced at least some shaking from coastal Oregon to south of San Jose, California, publicreportscollected by the survey show. It poses no tsunami threat, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.
Tuesday’s temblorcomes a yearafter a 6.2 magnitude quake struck just off Humboldt County’s Cape Mendocino on Dec. 20, 2021, and caused minor damage to buildings in the area.
