by A string of moderate earthquakes struck off the Northern California coast early Monday morning, with the largest registering at magnitude 4.4, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The seismic activity began at 1:17 a.m. with a 4.1 magnitude quake, followed just seconds later by the 4.4 magnitude temblor, the US Geological Survey reported. At least six quakes were recorded in total, all centered roughly 40 to 50 miles southwest of Eureka, a coastal city in Humboldt County.
According to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter was located near several small towns. Petrolia was the closest, sitting about 19 miles east-northeast. Ferndale was located approximately 29 miles northeast, and Rio Dell was about 32 miles east-northeast from the epicenter. All three towns are part of California’s remote and rugged North Coast region, an area known for its seismic activity and forested landscapes.
Aftershocks followed the initial earthquakes in quick succession. The US Geological Survey stated that a 2.9 magnitude quake struck at 1:22 a.m., followed by a 2.5 magnitude temblor at 1:33 a.m. Just minutes later, a 3.2 magnitude jolt occurred at 1:38 a.m. The shaking continued until at least 4:01 a.m., when a 3.0 magnitude quake was recorded.
The United States Geological Survey has not reported any damages or injuries as of Monday morning. No other information was immediately available about the impacts of the quakes, which struck in a relatively remote offshore area.
These earthquakes come as a reminder of the seismic risk along California’s North Coast. Although sparsely populated, towns like Petrolia, Ferndale, and Rio Dell sit near the boundary of several major fault lines, making them especially sensitive to offshore activity.
