The United States’ California saw a 3.7-magnitude earthquake on Friday morning, which exacerbated the state’s already severe wildfire problems.
According to Mail Online, the epicentre of the tremor was roughly two miles west of the Great Highway and five miles southwest of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was discovered close to the San Francisco Bay Area at 7:02 a.m. PT.
Four minutes after the original impact, there was a 2.2 magnitude aftershock, and six minutes after that, there was a 2.5 magnitude earthquake. Over 5,000 people in the region felt the tremor, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), and the number of complaints is still rising.
About 350 miles separate this seismic activity from the Los Angeles region, where flames have wreaked havoc.
At least ten individuals have lost their lives in the fires in Los Angeles, and 180,000 residents have had to leave their homes. Nearly 30,000 acres of land have been burned, and more than 10,000 buildings have been destroyed.
“I ordered city government into action immediately this morning, and our first responders have been out across the city ensuring the safety of our residents,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie in response to the crisis.
Additionally, we have been disseminating knowledge and equipping individuals with the means to safeguard themselves and their loved ones during such a situation.”
There have been no reports of damage or injuries from Friday’s earthquake, despite the tremors.
A 3.0 magnitude earthquake was discovered by the USGS the previous day, fewer than 100 miles from Friday’s epicentre. Earlier in the week, other smaller earthquakes were also identified.
Residents of San Francisco posted their experiences on X after the earthquake disrupted the Muni train service. Nadia Rahman wrote, “[I] just felt the most significant earthquake I’ve personally experienced in San Francisco.”
Even though the shaking was intense, many people said it just lasted a second.
Although earthquakes are a common hazard in California, experts have cautioned that a significant earthquake along the San Andreas Fault is imminent.
According to experts, such an event might have a magnitude of 8.0 or higher, which could result in up to $200 billion in damage and 1,800 fatalities.
Amidst these difficulties, Los Angeles is still battling fierce wildfires, such as the Kenneth Fire, which was purportedly ignited by an arsonist who has since been taken into custody.
Curfews have been implemented at night to prevent looting, but the destruction is still severe, with whole blocks of Malibu and the Pacific Palisades reduced to rubble.
Strong winds have fueled the fires, but later in the day, experts forecast calmer weather.
