5.4 Quake Hits Northern California

5.4-magnitude earthquake strikes Northern California; second one in less than 2 weeks

Allen Cone

A 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck Northern California Sunday morning in an area where one struck less than two weeks ago, according to the US Geological Survey.

The quake about 30 miles south of Eureka and was centered about 9 miles southeast of Rio Dell and ocurred at 11:35 a.m. PDT, USGS said. The earthquake occurring at a depth of about 17.3 miles, according to preliminary information from the agency.

A 6.4 earthquark struck the region on Dec. 20, killing two people.

Rio Dell, with a population of 3,367, is 267.5 miles north of Sacramento.

"It was crazy. The earthquake felt more violent this time," Rio Dell Mayi Garnes told CNN. "It was shorter, but more violent. My refrigerator moved 2 feet. Things came out of the refrigerator. There's a crack in my wall from the violence of it."

In the earlier quake, Garnes said 27 homes were red-tagged, meaning they were unsafe due to damage . Also 73 homes were yellow-tagged in Rio Dell.

Earthquake: Magnitude 5.4 quake hits Northern California days after deadly temblor

Laura J. Nelson, Quakebot

A magnitude 5.4 earthquake hit Humboldt County on New Year's Day, rattling an area that was hit hard by a deadly temblor just before Christmas.

The epicenter of the Sunday morning earthquake was about nine miles from Rio Dell and 26 miles from Eureka. Residents in the area reported strong shaking starting at 10:35 a.m., according to preliminary information from the U.S. Geological Survey.

More aftershocks are expected over the next few days, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The temblor came 12 days after a magnitude 6.4 quake killed two people, left a dozen injured, and caused widespread damage in Rio Dell, a lumber town about 25 miles south of Eureka.

Dozens of buildings were red-tagged in the Dec. 20 earthquake, leaving families homeless just before Christmas. Residents were under a boil-water order until last Wednesday.

Officials were still assessing damage from the Sunday quake. Caltrans said that Fernbridge, a historic poured concrete span that carries U.S. Route 211 across the Eel River, was temporarily closed for a seismic safety inspection.

An estimated 1,074 households in Rio Dell were without power at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, according to preliminary information from PG&E.