Magnitude 4.3 earthquake reported near Fortuna, Calif.
A powerful undersea quake with a magnitude as high as 4.3 has struck off the California coast, killing at least two people and injuring dozens of others.
A few hours after the magnitude-4.4 earthquake struck 830 miles (1,300 kilometers) west of San Francisco during the afternoon on Tuesday, people in the bay area reported a second tremor, with the earthquake followed moments later by several more.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco, and its magnitude may have been as high as 4.3. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 miles.
It had a preliminary depth of 10 miles (16 kilometers), the agency said.
At least two people were killed, and 13 others were treated at the San Francisco General Hospital, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said, adding that one of those killed had been identified as John F. Sullivan, a professor at San Jose State University in California.
The quake occurred just before or after 4 p.m. local time (20:00 GMT), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Its epicenter was about 7 miles south-southeast of Fortuna, a small town of about 5,200 people about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco.
The quake was centered about 500 miles west of the Salton Sink, a geological feature that resembles the Grand Canyon in profile.
The quake was felt up and down the coastline.
The quake’s powerful rumble traveled across much of central California about 30 miles away from Santa Cruz, where the shock followed two aftershocks within minutes.
California State University, Chico confirmed that one of its dorms was evacuated.
Earlier Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said there were a “limited number” of aftershocks following the earthquake. It described several as “moderately violent.” No major damage was reported. The quake was felt across much of California.
The quake was felt widely around San Francisco, where some residents were woken by a shaking, said Mark Doms, a spokesman for the San Francisco Fire Department.
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit said it suspended train service between the Bay Area Rapid Transit stations on Embarcadero and 19th streets because of the quake,