Magnitude 5.4 Earthquake Hits Near Lake Almanor

A 5.4-magnitude earthquake has struck Northern California on Thursday afternoon, impacting areas as far as Sacramento.

The epicenter of the tremor, initially rated as 5.5, was identified near Lake Almanor, situated northeast of Chico in Plumas County, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred just before 4:20 p.m. PST.

The earthquake has caused a disruption to the 911 service in the region, prompting California Highway Patrol to release a statement. The dispatch cell phone 911 lines for their Chico division are currently unavailable due to the seismic event. As a workaround, they are advising those unable to connect through the emergency line to dial (530) 332-1200. As of now, there have been no additional reports of damage.