65,000 Left Without Power After Intense 6.4 Earthquake Shakes Northern California

Videos posted on social media depict the damage caused by the magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck sections of Northern California early on Tuesday to a woman's home.

A "Notable" Earthquake

(Photo : Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The USGS reported the "notable" earthquake at 5:45 am, which was 2:45 am local time, roughly seven miles west-southwest of Ferndale, a community of about 15,000 inhabitants located 261 miles north of San Francisco.

The National Weather Service reported that although it triggered the organization's early-earning "shaking alert," a destructive tsunami was not initially anticipated to occur in the region.

Initial reports of extensive damage were lacking, but locals tweeted pictures of the aftermath, with more than 65,000 people in the region losing power, also hitting Eureka and Fortuna.

Also Read: Experts are Studying the "Biggest Earthquake in Human History"  

Social Media Footages

In a video she tweeted, author Caroline Titus showed how the earthquake destroyed furniture and broke plates and glasses in her home in Ferndale, California.

She described the earthquake as "a significant one." Power is now out in Ferndale, California. House is in disarray. A subsequent video that Titus posted shows a kitchen shelf that had fallen to the ground during the earthquake.

The Victorian house dates back 140 years. In what fell, the shaking from north to south is fairly noticeable. This was where we had our coffee. Sorry for the dim video. Still no power, Titus reported.

The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) ShakeAlert system, which alerts locals when an earthquake is on the horizon, is likely to have sent out alerts to many inhabitants of Ferndale and the surrounding area in advance of the quake.

"Did you experience the magnitude 6.4 earthquake that occurred at 2:34 am, 7.5 miles southwest of Ferndale? The #ShakeAlert system has been triggered," reads the tweet from the USGS. According to the report, the earthquake was strong enough to send alarms to locals' cellphones.

The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office tweeted that no tsunami was anticipated after the earthquake. People were urged not to dial 911 unless there was an immediate emergency.

According to a tweet from the sheriff's office, the earthquake resulted in "widespread damages to roads and homes" around Humboldt County. "Be on the lookout for aftershocks. Check for damage or leaks in the water and gas lines. Use caution when traveling.

The main route to Ferndale was damaged by the earthquake, according to reports from KAEF TV reporter Austin Castro, and is still closed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) as workers look for more damage.

State Route 211 at Fernbridge will be closed, according to Caltrans, while workers assess the quake's damage and examine a bridge for safety.

Stay Alert!

Following the earthquake, various gas leaks were reportedly discovered in Humboldt County, one of which, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, resulted in a building fire on Pacific Avenue in Rio Dell. According to KRCR, Cal Fire also reported an incident in which a house water heater exploded and flooded a residential building.

Related Article: 'Silent' Tsunamis Come Along With Recent Intense Volcanic Eruptions

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