5.2 Magnitude Earthquake Hits the Humboldt Coast
A significant shake was felt in Humboldt County at 3:08 pm today as a 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck just 8 miles west of Petrolia. Per reports, items fell off shelves but there was no reported damage and no tsunami activity is expected.
Prelim: 5.0; 14 km west of Petrolia. Felt larger in Ferndale. Stuff off shelves. #earthquake #ferndaleca #temblor
— Ferndale Enterprise (@FrndEnterprise) March 18, 2020
Tsunami NOT expected. https://t.co/MChyjR1uga
— NWS Eureka (@NWSEureka) March 18, 2020
This event follows a significant amount of earthquake activity just nine days ago as 10 earthquakes hit the exact area, including one measuring in at 5.8 magnitude.
The North Coast has a history of tsunamis in the area due to its proximity of the active geological area of the nearby Mendocino Triple Junction, which is the confluence of the San Andreas Fault and Cascadia Subduction Zone. In 1964, Crescent City had a tsunami that killed 12 people and caused $15 million in damage.