According to the U.S. Geological Survey (“USGS”), a 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck Northern California on Sunday morning in an area where one struck less than two weeks ago. A 6.4 earthquark struck the region on Dec. 20, killing two people.
The USGS said the quake about 30 miles south of Eureka and was centered about 9 miles southeast of Rio Dell and ocurred at 11:35 a.m. PDT. The earthquake occurring at a depth of about 17.3 miles, according to preliminary information from the agency. Rio Dell, with a population of 3,367, is 267.5 miles north of Sacramento.
According to the California Department of Transportation, there were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage. Route 211 was temporarily closed as inspectors checked a bridge that crosses the Eel River in Humboldt County for damage.
Rio Dell Mayor Debra Garnes told CNN: “It was crazy. The earthquake felt more violent this time. It was shorter, but more violent. My refrigerator moved 2 feet. Things came out of the refrigerator. There’s a crack in my wall from the violence of it.” In the earlier quake, Garnes said 27 homes were red-tagged, meaning they were unsafe due to damage, and 73 homes were yellow-tagged in Rio Dell.
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