SAN FRANCISCO — A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Northern California on Wednesday morning, shaking communities across a broad area of the state and triggering earthquake alerts for hundreds of thousands of residents, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred at about 8:10 a.m. local time in Mendocino County, with an epicenter near Redwood Valley, north of Ukiah. USGS data showed the earthquake originated at a depth of about 5 miles (8 kilometers).
The tremor was felt well beyond the immediate area, including in coastal communities and parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, according to residents and local authorities. The USGS said thousands of people reported experiencing the shaking. Officials said the earthquake was followed by several smaller aftershocks.
Emergency management agencies and local authorities began assessing infrastructure and public facilities shortly after the quake. Initial reports indicated limited damage in the region, although some businesses reported items falling from shelves and walls. Power outages affected several communities near the epicenter, according to local media reports and utility information cited by officials.
At a restaurant in Calpella, near the affected area, employee Brie Leon described the shaking as sudden and forceful.
“I had just turned the open sign on and went back into the kitchen, and that’s when it happened,” Leon said. “It almost felt like something hit the building.”
The earthquake occurred along the Maacama Fault system in Northern California, according to USGS seismologists. Scientists said the event was widely felt because of its magnitude and relatively shallow depth. Authorities said no tsunami warning was issued following the earthquake.
California experiences thousands of earthquakes each year, though only a small number cause significant damage. The USGS said a magnitude 5.6 earthquake is generally considered moderate but can produce strong shaking near its source.
As of Wednesday evening, officials had not reported widespread structural damage. Mendocino County authorities said damage assessments were continuing, while state emergency officials monitored aftershock activity and coordinated with local agencies. Details on the full extent of any damage or injuries remained unclear.
