Powerful 5.8-magnitude earthquake strikes off Northern California before aftershock rattles the coastline

  • Quake hit at 8pm with epicenter 70 miles southwest of Eureka, Humboldt County
  • Followed around three hours later by a 4.9-magnitude aftershock in same area
  • More than 1,200 people reported they had felt the earthquake across California

By Faith Ridler For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A powerful 5.8-magnitude earthquake rattled Northern California last night, hours before an aftershock struck the coastline.

The quake, which hit at around 8pm, had an epicenter more than a mile beneath the Pacific Ocean and 70 miles southwest of Eureka in Humboldt County.

It was followed around three hours later by a 4.9-magnitude aftershock, which struck a nearby area 64 miles from Fortuna, California and 65 miles from Eureka.

The US Geological Survey initially reported the first quake's magnitude as 5.9, but downgraded it slightly to 5.8 later on Sunday night.  

The 5.8-magnitude quake (pictured), which hit at around 8pm, had an epicenter more than a mile beneath the Pacific Ocean and 70 miles southwest of Eureka in Humboldt County

The 5.8-magnitude quake (pictured), which hit at around 8pm, had an epicenter more than a mile beneath the Pacific Ocean and 70 miles southwest of Eureka in Humboldt County

More than 1,200 people reported they had felt the earthquake, including around 700 from Eureka, despite the tremor's distance from the coast, according to the USGS website. 

Other reports of moderate shaking came from San Jose, Boulder Creek and even Gresham in Oregon. 

The National Weather Service's Tsunami Warning System said there was little chance of a tsunami as a result of the quake.

Those in the area posted on social media after the earthquake, with one user claiming the tremors were so strong that a friend in Shelter Cove said it 'knocked things down in [the] house'.

It was followed around three hours later by a 4.9-magnitude aftershock, which struck a nearby area 64 miles from Fortuna, California and 65 miles from Eureka (pictured)

It was followed around three hours later by a 4.9-magnitude aftershock, which struck a nearby area 64 miles from Fortuna, California and 65 miles from Eureka (pictured)

Another said the quake was 'a slow, nauseating quake in northern Mendocino,' according to CBS.  

Paul Bugnacki posted a video to Twitter of his ceiling light shaking due to last night's tremors.

He said: 'USGS sent a tweet about it quicker than usual. This 5.9 was a slow roller.' 

In the past week, there has only been one other earthquake above magnitude 3.0 within 100 miles of the epicenter of the 5.8-magnitude quake.

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