A view of Pacific Coastline in Pacifica, California | Source: Getty Images
‘That Moment Was Terrifying’: Powerful 7.0 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes California – Videos
A fan comments on the earthquake whose epicenter was Ferndale in California, from a post dated December 5, 2024 | Source: TikTok/@dailymail
The earthquake, a powerful 7.0 magnitude, hit off the northern California coast. Local authorities confirmed that there were no fatalities or major widespread damage from the quake, which struck offshore Humboldt County on December 5, 2024.
The earthquake was truly a nerve-wracking situation for many who spoke out on social media. One local resident described it as an overwhelming experience, “It rocked our whole county!! It was crazy!”
A shopper at Walmart shared a similar experience, “I was in the Walmart, it was so scary the shelves were all rocking pretty bad.[sic]” One person declared, “This was so WILD!”
Another individual reflected on the bigger picture, “This was one of the biggest earthquakes in California and though it did not cause much damage, one thing that people are ignoring is that such a huge earthquake can activate the dormant fault lines. So in the vicinity, a bigger earthquake is always a possibility.”
A thankful individual gasped, “That moment was terrifying! Glad everyone made it through safely! 😨,” while someone else admitted, “I was scared to death it was BAD WORST ONE IVE EVER FELT.[sic]”
Even those a distance from the epicenter felt the quake as one user noted, “I was one hour away from earthquake. My apartment shook so much I could barely walk to the door frame lol.[sic]”
A local resident also narrated their experience, “It was scary in Humboldt County! It lasted a while and went through every interation [sic] of an earthquake: jolts, rolling, shaking, rocking. Yikes!” The intensity of the tremor was unforgettable for them.
Following the earthquake, the National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska, issued a tsunami warning for much of the northwestern California coast. However, once it was determined that no significant waves were expected, the warning was lifted. Currently, there is no tsunami threat to Humboldt County.
