FERNDALE, CA - A strong earthquake magnitude, 6.5, struck northern California, causing significant damage.
It was centered 20 miles west northwest off the coast of Ferndale in northern California Saturday afternoon at 4:28, Pacific Time. The earthquake's depth is estimated at 14 miles.
The location is about 27 miles south of Eureka and 224 miles northwest of Sacramento.
Ferndale police officer Paul Diaz said there was “structural damage all around town — pretty bad” including broken glass in stores and stucco falling off of City Hall, in an interview with the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat.
Authorities in the nearby city of Eureka and other area communities said no major injuries have been reported. But several people received minor cuts and scrapes from broken glass at the Bayshore Mall in Eureka, and an elderly person fell and broke a hip, authorities said.
''We're mostly getting reports of bumps, bruises and hits on the head,'' said Laurie Watson Stone, a spokeswoman for St. Joseph Hospital, a 146-bed hospital in Eureka. ''The emergency room is busy, but we haven't heard of any major injuries.''
Amanda Nichols, a dispatcher for Eureka Police Department, said she received a report that an infant was struck in the head with some flying debris at the mall.
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. spokesman J.D. Guidi said power outages were widespread across most of Humboldt County, affecting about 25,000 customers.
Nearly 10,000 remained without power some five hours after the quake, and some could remain without power through Sunday, said PG&E spokeswoman Janna Morris.
No damage was done to the company's former nuclear power plant outside Eureka, Morris said.
Several traffic lights fell and numerous residents reported water, gas and sewer leaks, Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services spokeswoman Jo Wattle said.
''People have chimneys down, and we're hearing about minor property damage and lots of glassware broken,'' Wattle said. ''People are really shaken up. It was shaking pretty good, then it had a big jolt to it at the end.''
Police in Ferndale said the earthquake caused stucco to fall off City Hall and broke shop windows, strewing the historic downtown streets with glass shards.
''I thought a tire had blown off my truck because it was so hard to keep control of the vehicle,'' Officer Lindsey Frank said. ''Power lines were swaying, and I could see people in the fields trying to keep their balance.''
The quake was felt as far south as Capitola in central California and as far north as central Oregon, agency geophysicist Richard Buckmaster said.
The area is about 270 miles north of San Francisco in a coastal area known for periodic earthquakes.
In 1964, a tsunami washed away 11 people in Crescent City, 85 miles north of Eureka. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said there was no threat of the quake generating a tsunami.
Sandra Hall, owner of Antiques and Goodies in Eureka, told the Los Angeles Times that the quake moved her shop in all directions.
Her store is now littered with broken lamps, dishes, and wardrobe items. She said there were at least four people in her store when the quake struck. A couple managed to run out of the store’s main entrance, while two women took cover under a table.
“We’ve been through a lot of earthquakes but I can’t recall there ever being any this bad,” Hall said.
More than a dozen smaller earthquakes have been felt after the initial earthquake with the strongest aftershock a 4.5 quake at 6:22 p.m.
The earthquake knocked out the power in Arcata, a small town that's home to Humboldt State University, and one resident said many people had objects knocked off walls and televisions tumble.
“It was huge — one of the biggest earthquakes we've had up here in 20 years,” said Judd Starks, the kitchen manager at a bar and restaurant known as The Alibi. “The whole town is kind of freaked out right now. All the power is out, people are out walking around.
Tweets from Ferndale area residents on Twitter gave first-hand reports of the quake:
"broken glass, bookcases over, no power. Folks checking on neighbors..."
"Some power lines down, large boulders in the road, and city hall damaged in Ferndale, but no major damage reported."
"whoa! we shook!!! no power, but we're alive and our house is still standing."
"live feed from Humboldt County says residents are being evacuated due to gas leaks."
"Falling caribou head narrowly missed striking employee"
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