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Public Safety

Magnitude-6.0 Quake Off Northern Calif. Coast

This map by USGS pinpoints the location of the quake that struck off the coast of Northern California on February 4, 2010.
USGS
This map by USGS pinpoints the location of the quake that struck off the coast of Northern California on February 4, 2010.

A magnitude-6.0 earthquake has struck off the coast of Humboldt County, but officials say there are no immediate reports of major damage or injury.

The U.S. Geological Survey reports that the temblor hit at 12:20 p.m. about 35 miles northwest of the community of Petrolia and nearly 50 miles west of Eureka. The shaking was felt up to the Oregon border and as far south as Sonoma County.

County spokesman Phil Smith-Hanes says he felt a rolling sensation, but the movement didn't feel as severe as the magnitude-6.5 quake that struck the same area Jan. 9. That quake left more than $40 million of damage in the area and caused one major injury.

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Eureka Fire Chief Eric Smith says crews are checking on structures damaged in the previous earthquake to make sure they're secure.

KPBS has created a public safety coverage policy to guide decisions on what stories we prioritize, as well as whose narratives we need to include to tell complete stories that best serve our audiences. This policy was shaped through months of training with the Poynter Institute and feedback from the community. You can read the full policy here.