Powerful earthquake in the USA: tsunami warning and emergency measures
An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 struck off the coast of California, affecting thousands of people. A state of emergency has been declared, and rescue operations are underway.
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A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 struck off the coast of California. According to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter was located in the Pacific Ocean, 63 kilometers west of the town of Petrolia in Humboldt County.
The tremors were recorded at 10:44 AM local time and were felt as far as San Francisco.
The National Weather Service immediately issued a tsunami warning. The warning covered 805 kilometers of the coastal zone, stretching from Monterey to Oregon.
Local residents, numbering over five million, were urged to evacuate to higher ground and stay away from the coast.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to expedite the allocation of resources for emergency response.
In his statement, he emphasized the need for swift action to protect people and infrastructure.
The tremors caused disruptions to transportation. In San Francisco, the BART electric train service passing through the underwater tunnel was temporarily suspended.
Seismologists note that northwestern California is one of the most seismically active regions in the state, where three tectonic plates converge.
Aftershocks continued for several hours; however, there have been no reports of serious damage or casualties. Rescue services continue to monitor the situation and are preparing for potential further tremors.
Earlier, it was reported that the largest earthquake in 25 years with a magnitude of 7.4 occurred in Taiwan, causing widespread destruction.
It was also reported that a large-scale wildfire broke out on the border of New York and New Jersey states, engulfing more than 5,000 acres of forest and forcing the evacuation of over 160 homes in Orange County; firefighters continue to battle the blaze.