At least two people were killed and 11 injured after an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale off the coast of Northern California, US authorities said Tuesday, adding that 70,000 people were without power.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, in the State of California, about 250 kilometers north of San Francisco, explained in a statement that the two deaths were due to “medical emergencies” that occurred during or after the earthquake.
The quake struck at 02:34 a.m. (10:34 a.m. in Lisbon) and was followed by several aftershocks, one of which reached a magnitude of 4.6, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). .
About 70,000 customers remained without power in that area, though power companies are working to restore power, the sheriff’s office added in the news release.
The same source explained that a damage assessment is being carried out, some of them “structural and significant”, in facilities such as water and gas pipelines in the Rio Dell area.
Authorities also detected “moderate damage” to properties in the Eel River valley.
The California Highway Patrol received warnings that the quake caused a breach in an access bridge to Ferndale, according to local media.
Source: TSF
