Residents of the north of the American state received an alert on the potential consequences of this strong earthquake this Thursday, December 5 in the evening. However, it was quickly lifted.
California on alert. A powerful magnitude 7 earthquake struck this Thursday evening, December 5, near the coast of the north of the American state, announced the American Institute of Geophysics (USGS), triggering a tsunami alert. About 4.7 million residents in California and Oregon received it on their devices. The alert was, however, quickly lifted by the authorities, believing that no danger or threat persisted.
The earthquake struck around 7:45 p.m. (French time), 10 kilometers deep, near the small town of Eureka, according to the USGS. Nearly 19,000 residents located nearby were deprived of power.
“Based on the preliminary parameters of the earthquake […] dangerous tsunamis are possible for coasts located within 300 kilometers of the earthquake epicenter,” the American authorities initially announced.
According to local media San Francisco Chronicleemergency notifications were sent to smartphones in earthquake-affected areas urging their owners to immediately move to higher ground. “A series of powerful waves and strong currents can affect the coasts near you. You are in danger. Stay away from coastal waters,” indicate the messages.
Zoo evacuated, metro closed
The newspaper also reports that sirens were sounded in Humboldt County. Some schools in the municipality of Vallejo have offered parents the opportunity to pick up their children. The subway was interrupted and the San Francisco Zoo closed its doors after evacuating its visitors.
Before the magnitude 7 tremor, two other smaller ones – 4.2 and 4.4 – were felt in the same area. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurred three minutes later 300 kilometers from San Francisco, near Cobb.
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