Earthquake today struck rural northern California near Willits at 8:10 a.m. Pacific time, sending a magnitude 5.6 quake through Mendocino County and into nearby communities. Hospitals reported some injured people, while officials said they had no immediate reports of major damage.
The epicenter was about 12 kilometers northwest of Willits and 8 kilometers deep. The shaking reached Fort Bragg, and more than 6,000 residents in six localities near the epicenter lost power as crews began checking roads and utility lines.
Club Calpella in Calpella
At Club Calpella in Calpella, Brie Leon said the quake hit just after she and her colleagues opened the restaurant. "Acababa de encender el letrero de abierto y volví a la cocina, y fue entonces cuando ocurrió" she said. Leon added, "Casi se sintió como si algo hubiera golpeado el edificio" and "No fue un sismo muy, muy grande, pero las cosas se fueron por todas partes." Picture frames fell from walls and bottles came off shelves in the restaurant and neighboring storage area.
Brie Leon and her colleagues were already inside when the shaking started, which gave the episode an immediate, local shape for workers dealing with the aftermath before the lunch rush.
Heather Rose on injuries
Heather Rose, the county spokesperson, said in a statement to reporters that "los hospitales habían reportado algunos lesionados, pero que no tenía detalles sobre la naturaleza o gravedad de las heridas." That left the damage picture uneven: people were hurt, but officials still described no immediate major damage across the area.
For residents and business owners near Willits, the practical next step is to stay clear of highways and roads until crews can inspect for damage and make repairs. The Mendocino County Executive Office urged people to keep off those routes while checks continued.
Lucy Jones and aftershocks
Lucy Jones said, "La zona no está exenta de sismos, pero por lo general son más pequeños que este," and said the quake was the biggest in the region in almost nine decades. Jones said aftershocks are likely, but "probablemente serán pocas." Within an hour of the main quake, three additional earthquakes below 2.7 were recorded near the epicenter.
Alan Harris was at home in Kelseyville with his family when an earthquake alert arrived on his cellphone. He said, "Grité de inmediato a mi esposa y mi hija para asegurarme de que se estuvieran sujetando," and added, "Fue aterrador. Se podían oír cosas estrellándose, sobre todo en el tercer piso de la casa." For families across rural Mendocino County, the immediate question is how serious the injuries are and how quickly road checks can clear the routes that remain open.
