A strong earthquake that struck off the coast of northern California early Tuesday shook people awake, damaged a bridge, caused natural-gas leaks, and left tens of thousands of customers without electricity. The magnitude-6.4 earthquake struck about 12 kilometers west-southwest of Ferndale, California, which is located about 420 kilometers north of San Francisco and just south of Eureka. Its depth was about 16 kilometers, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said. There was no risk of tsunami, according to the U.S. tsunami warning system. More than 72,000 homes and businesses were without electricity in Ferndale and surrounding Humboldt County. Local media reported that the California Highway Patrol was responding to reports of cracks in the Ferndale bridge over the Eel River. Two major highways remained open through Humboldt County, a state lawmaker said, noting that transportation officials were assessing highway infrastructure. The earthquake caused strong shaking and likely produced light to moderate damage, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). An earthquake's intensity depends on its distance from a fault, its direction, and the local geology. About five earthquakes of magnitudes between 6.0 and 7.0 happen each year in California and Nevada, according to recent data, the Los Angeles Times reported.
