A large, 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Humboldt County in Northern California on Thursday morning, prompting a tsunami warning for part of the North Coast. The warning was later canceled.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake struck around 10:44 a.m., west of Petrolia, California in the Pacific Ocean. A tsunami warning was issued for 45 miles southwest of the Northern California city of Eureka shortly after and expired around noon, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Organization.

The earthquake was first registered as having a preliminary magnitude of 6.6, but USGS updated it to 7.0. It appears to have an epicenter at the triple junction of the Pacific, North American and Juan de Fuca tectonic plates. The earthquake was among the largest recorded in California in recent years.

A significant aftershock that initially registered as a 5.8-magnitude quake hit minutes later near Cobb, California in Lake County, according to the USGS. It has now been downgraded to a 4.1. Dozens of aftershocks have also been recorded near the 7.0 and Cobb epicenters in the minutes following, all registering between 2.5 to 4.2 magnitude.

Residents up and down the Northern California coast, as well as into the Central Valley, reported feeling shaking.

Tsunami warning evacuation orders

Coastal residents along the north coast were told to move to higher ground due to the tsunami warning.

The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office said residents in coastal areas in the tsunami zone need to evacuate immediately.

San Mateo County authorities noted that the tsunami warning extended to their area. People were urged to avoid beaches and coastlines.

Bay Area Rapid Transit service through the Transbay Tube was halted for a time, but has since resumed.

Gov. Newsom issues emergency proclamation

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said he had been briefed on the earthquake and tsunami warning.

The governor was meeting with state emergency officials, his office said, and the California Office of Emergency Services operations center has been activated.

Newsom has since issued an emergency proclamation in response to the incident.

"I am grateful for the robust system our state has in place that worked as intended today and kept people safe and informed," Newsom said in a statement.

Commonly issued after natural disasters like wildfires, emergency proclamations open up funds and other emergency resources to first responders.

Cecilio Padilla

Cecilio Padilla is a digital producer for CBS Sacramento and a Sacramento-area native who has been covering Northern California for more than a decade.

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HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif. — A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck in Humboldt County Thursday morning, prompting a short-lived tsunami warning stretching from Oregon down to around Santa Cruz.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake happened around 10:45 a.m. and was detected 62 miles southwest of Ferndale, about five hours northwest of Sacramento.

People reported they felt the earthquake as far south as Monterey in the Central Coast and north as Medford near the Oregon and California state line, according to the USGS "Did You Feel It?" self-reporting tool.

The USGS said Eureka and surrounding areas possibly have moderate to heavy damage due to the earthquake.

The earthquake was reportedly felt in the Central Valley in Merced, Modesto and Stockton, but the intensity was "weak," according to the USGS. The intensity was also "weak" for reports in Sacramento, Elk Grove and other areas in the Sacramento region.

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Videos sent to ABC10 show objects swaying, like light fixtures, or pool water sloshing back and forth.

A man named Steven told ABC10 he was working on the sixth floor of the California Natural Resources building when the earthquake happened.

"It wasn't anything too intense like if you were on the ground level in a regular house, you can really hear things shaking and feel things shaking, but we didn't have that in our building," he said. "Some people did feel it maybe more than others and they felt the need to evacuate too, so not everybody felt really safe."

He also said he saw construction workers stopping work and putting safety first before resuming construction.

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An 7.0-magnitude earthquake off the Northern California coast shook up the region on Thursday morning, prompting a tsunami warning and evacuation orders for areas of California and Oregon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The tsunami warning was temporarily in effect for coastal areas extending roughly 600 miles from Davenport about 10 miles north of Santa Cruz to the border between Douglas and Lane counties in Oregon about 10 miles south of Florence, Oregon, according to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

The state agency warned of “widespread dangerous coastal flooding accompanied by powerful currents.”

However, the U.S. Tsunami Warning Center eventually canceled the warning, the National Weather Service announced via X around noon Thursday.

“No tsunami danger presently exists for (the) region,” the weather service said.

The epicenter of the earthquake was about 39 miles west of Petrolia, southwest of Eureka, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The Geological Survey also reported temblors near the Lake County community of Cobb, including a 5.8-magnitude earthquake centered in nearby Sonoma County, less than five minutes after the larger quake.

According to the Geological Survey, the earthquake officially known as the “2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino, California Earthquake” took place off the coast of Northern California near the Mendocino triple junction where the Pacific, North America and Juan de Fuca/Gorda plates meet.

The federal agency said the location and depth of the quake indicated that it “likely occurred on or near the Mendocino Fracture Zone.”

This fault zone strikes east to southeast and forms the boundary between the southern Pacific Plate and the northern Gorda Plate.

Big quakes are common in the area around the Mendocino triple junction, the Geological Survey said.

“In the past century, there have been at least 40 other earthquakes of M6 or larger,” within 250 kilometers of where the 7.0-magnitude quake hit Thursday, the agency said on it’s website.

The quake was initially measured at a magnitude of 6.6 but the figure was revised minutes later by the Geological Survey.

The quake, which was recorded at 10:47 a.m., rattled parts of Humboldt County, California State Sen. Mike McGuire wrote in an X post.

McGuire said tremors were “widely felt throughout the North Coast, as far south of Sonoma County.”

Shocks also spread through downtown Sacramento and could be felt in high-rise buildings along Capitol Mall, The Sacramento Bee previously reported.

Residents of Crescent City in Del Norte County were ordered to evacuate, McGuire said in an update just before 11:15 a.m.

“All residents should head to higher ground immediately and follow local OES and Sheriff Office instructions,” McGuire wrote.

Humboldt County emergency officials said that there is no longer a tsunami threat but warned residents to be prepared for aftershocks, the sheriff’s office said in a post on X.

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said the evacuation warning had been downgraded to “situational awareness for tsunami” in the Mendocino Coast area.

This story was originally published December 5, 2024, 12:42 PM.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake struck just around 10:45 a.m. Thursday.

PETROLIA, Calif. — A preliminary magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Thursday morning near Ferndale, California, in Humboldt County.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the rumble happened around 10:45 a.m. It was centered around 62 miles southwest of Ferndale — about 5 hours northwest of Sacramento — along the coast of Humboldt County.

People reported feeling it as far south as Livermore in East Bay, according to the 'Did You Feel It?' self-reporting tool on the USGS website. The USGS said there is a possibility of moderate to heavy damage near Eureka and the surrounding areas.

A map of where the earthquake was likely felt can be found HERE.

A tsunami warning was issued along the coast from Oregon down to around Santa Cruz but was later canceled around noon.

In the Santa Cruz area, phones buzzed with a tsunami warning from the National Weather Service that said: “A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact coasts near you. You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now. Keep away from the coast until local officials say it is safe to return.”

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, known as BART, stopped traffic in all directions through the underwater tunnel between San Francisco and Oakland. BART and MUNI have since resumed normal operations.

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ALL ABOUT EARTHQUAKE PREP:

WATCH MORE: Earthquakes come without warning and if you aren’t prepared by the time the big one hits, you will be too late. The 2019 earthquake near Ridgecrest, California shined a spotlight on the need to be prepared with a disaster kit and a plan. A little work now could help you survive the next quake.

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Sacramento, CA (December 05, 2024) – A fire captain was struck by a vehicle while responding to a collision at 10573 E Stockton Blvd on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred as emergency responders from Sacramento Fire and Rescue were already on-site handling the initial crash. The fire captain, who was assisting at the scene, was struck by a passing vehicle. Paramedics quickly treated the fire captain for injuries at the scene, and the captain was transported to a nearby medical facility for further care. The extent of the captain's injuries remains undisclosed, but authorities have confirmed that the situation is being closely monitored.

The crash site caused significant traffic disruption in the area, and the scene of the initial accident remained under investigation by law enforcement officers. It is unclear at this time if the vehicle that struck the fire captain was involved in the original collision or a separate incident. Local authorities are conducting an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Our thoughts are with the fire captain, and we wish for a full and speedy recovery. We also extend our sympathy to everyone affected by this tragic incident.

The Dangers of Working on Active Accident Scenes

Emergency responders face significant risks when working at the scenes of accidents, as they are often required to move between traffic and other hazards to provide assistance. Unfortunately, accidents involving emergency personnel are a tragic but not uncommon occurrence. Firefighters, paramedics, and other first responders work tirelessly to save lives, but their safety is frequently compromised by fast-moving or distracted drivers who fail to slow down in active emergency zones.

Local authorities continue to remind the public of the importance of driving carefully when approaching accident scenes. Traffic laws require drivers to slow down, move over, and give space to emergency vehicles with flashing lights. Failure to do so can lead to severe consequences, including harm to emergency personnel.

If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident, whether as a driver or as an emergency responder, it's essential to remain cautious on the roads and respect the safety of those who work tirelessly to assist others. Local Accident Reports is here to provide support and guide you through recovery. Please drive attentively to prevent further accidents and protect both yourself and the dedicated first responders on the scene.