'That Moment Was Terrifying': Powerful 7.0 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes California – Videos

The earthquake's epicenter was located near the town of Ferndale, California, a small city in Humboldt County, approximately 260 miles north of San Francisco.

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.

Several stores experienced items falling from shelves, and many residents briefly lost power. In Humboldt County, over 1,000 people were left without electricity after the earthquake struck, as reported on the county's official website. Currently, there are no road closures, and damage assessments are still underway throughout the county.

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!"

Someone who witnessed the damage caused, recalled, "I went to Hobbie’s market and I saw everything on the floor. It was a horrifying experience and 2 of my friends were inside a classroom while the rest were outside."

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.