A pair of significant earthquakes off the West Coast sent shockwaves across two states on Wednesday morning, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The first tremor, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake, was detected in the Pacific Ocean at 6:53 a.m. ET (3:53 a.m. local time). Its epicenter was located approximately 100 miles from the coasts of California and Oregon, with residents in both states reporting shaking as the large tremor struck the shore.
Impact on Coastal Communities
Multiple coastal communities, from Eureka, California, to Reedsport, Oregon—a distance of about 240 miles—felt the tremors. The seismic event was followed by a magnitude 5.1 earthquake at 8:45 a.m. ET, which struck just 55 miles from Eureka, a city of more than 25,000 people in northern California.
ShakeAlert System Activated
USGS confirmed that its ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning system was activated by the quakes, sending automatic warnings to thousands of phones and digital devices. This system is designed to provide seconds of advance notice before shaking arrives, allowing people to take protective actions.
This is a breaking story. More details will follow as information becomes available.
