US: Damage reported following a magnitude-7.0 earthquake off northern California at 10:44 Dec. 5 /update 3

Officials continue to respond to a magnitude-7.0 earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean off of northern California at around 10:44 Dec. 5. Authorities initially issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas extending from the Douglas and Lane county line in Oregon to Davenport, California. However, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) subsequently reported that there is no longer a tsunami threat and no significant water level event is expected on the coast.

The earthquake's epicenter was about 63 km (39 miles) west-northwest of Petrolia, California, and 84 km (52 miles) southwest of Eureka, California. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 0.6 km (0.3 miles), and significant shaking was probably felt throughout northern California and southern Oregon.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to provide more resources. Authorities in multiple cities have evacuated buildings and urged people to move away from the coast. Significant delays are continuing along the Bay Area Rapid Transit system in the San Francisco region due to the earthquake. Authorities in Berkeley had ordered the evacuation of parts of the city west of Seventh Street. Officials have since lifted evacuation orders, and residents were allowed to return home. There are no reports of significant damage. As of late Dec. 5, more than 11,000 people remain without power. It could take several hours for authorities to conduct comprehensive assessments, especially in remote areas. Strong aftershocks are likely over the coming days; dozens of aftershocks have occurred.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.