A strong earthquake was felt widely across Northern California on Thursday and authorities had issued a tsunami warning.
The quake struck at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County near the Oregon border, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
It was felt as far south as San Francisco, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by smaller aftershocks.
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, known as BART, has stopped traffic in all directions through the underwater tunnel between San Francisco and Oakland.
The San Francisco Zoo’s visitors have been evacuated as a result of the earthquake, the zoo said in a post on the social media platform X. The animals have been secured and staff has been moved to higher ground.
Throughout Northern California 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.”
At least 5.3 million people in California were under a tsunami warning after the magnitude 7.0 earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey said in a yellow alert, which predicts localized but minimal damage.
More than 1.3 million people lived close enough to the quake that they could have felt it, the USGS estimated.
People who want to report feeling the earthquake can do so here.
The City of Berkeley has issued an Evacuation Order due to a Tsunami coming to West Berkeley.
— City of Berkeley (@CityofBerkeley) December 5, 2024
EVACUATE NOW
People in the Tsunami Zone are in IMMEDIATE DANGER and MUST EVACUATE NOW. Stay east of 7th St. This is a lawful order to leave now.
🚨Please read @SF_emergency's guidance and stay safe!@sfgov #Tsunami #warning #sfbayarea #sanfrancisco https://t.co/7yQm5QMoWP
— City of San Francisco (@sfgov) December 5, 2024
The Zoo has closed due to national weather emergency and tsunami warning. Guests have been evacuated, animals secured and staff have moved to higher ground.
— San Francisco Zoo & Gardens (@sfzoo) December 5, 2024
Tsunami Warning 1 for areas of OR & N. CA: See https://t.co/npoUHxX900 for alert areas. M7.3 045mi SW Eureka, California 1044PST Dec 5 pic.twitter.com/NFCbU5EaKa
— NWS Tsunami Alerts (@NWS_NTWC) December 5, 2024
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
