Northern California quake kills 2

• A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Northern California.
• It killed at least two people.
• Thousands of people are without power.

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Northern California early Tuesday, killing at least two people and leaving thousands without power.

The quake struck near Eureka in Humboldt County at 2:30 a.m. PT at a depth of 10 miles.

It hit 7.4 miles west-southwest of Ferndale.

72 and 83-year-olds died from medical issues after the quake, the sheriff said. He stated emergency responders couldn’t get them there in time.

Honsal said he expects the number of injured to climb.

Rio Dell, with a population of 3,300, was among the hardest damaged, Honsal added.

Rio Dell City Manager Kyle Knopp said 24 to 48 hours without water was predicted and 30 homes were destroyed. 15 houses were “red tagged” as uninhabitable, he said.

Knopp thought 150 could be relocated.

“Damage was severe in Rio Dell,” he stated.

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared an emergency, releasing state and federal resources. State officials warned Humboldt County residents to expect another quake.

Cynthia Pridmore, a senior engineering geologist with the California Geological Survey, says there’s a 13% possibility of another magnitude 5.0 or higher jolt next week.

She warned residents to gather food, water, flashlights, etc.

“People should be careful, especially in weakened structures,” she warned.

According to Pacific Gas and Electric, about 30,000 households and businesses were without power at 7:41 p.m.

Eureka set up a charging station for residents without power to plug in phones, computers, and medical equipment.

Police asked shops to keep a watch on their storefronts since “there have been multiple complaints of business burglaries.”

Humboldt County Emergency Services tweeted, “Power is out across the county. DO NOT CALL 911 UNLESS IT’S AN EMERGENCY.”

The sheriff’s office cautioned people to “be prepared for aftershocks” and check gas and water lines for damage or leaks.

It added, “Travel carefully.”

The state Transportation Department shuttered part of Ferndale’s historic Fernbridge due to “potential seismic damage.” A shot the agency posted online showed bridge cracks.

Mike Shapiro, a car salesman from Eureka, was awakened by Tuesday’s tremor.

“After two steps, I fell. The second jolt knocked me off balance “54-year-old Shapiro “I’m alright, just picked up glass for three hours.”

Since the 1992 Cape Mendocino earthquake, Shapiro has roped down furniture and appliances.

Shapiro remarked, “Earthquakes don’t usually frighten me, but this one did.” “Everything was secured, thankfully. We were unharmed.”

The National Weather Service’s tsunami warning system reported no threat early Tuesday.

People on social media stated the MyShake app on their phones woke them up.

USGS seismologist: Coastal residents felt “strong shaking.” The seismologist predicted minimal damage, including fallen shelves and foundational damage.

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck off Cape Mendocino on Dec. 21, 2021. It caused no severe damage or injuries. It struck 5.6 miles deep in the Pacific Ocean, 24 miles west of Petrolia, along California’s Lost Coast in Humboldt County, according to the Geological Survey and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department.

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, advised all but essential workers to stay off campus while inspecting the damage.

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Road Closure: State Route 211 at Fernbridge, Humboldt County is CLOSED. The bridge is closed while we conduct safety inspections due to possible seismic damage. pic.twitter.com/601oOQRz2o

— Caltrans District 1 (@CaltransDist1) December 20, 2022

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