Tsunami warnings issued for Northern California, Oregon after 7.0 earthquake

Nearly 5 million people along the Northern California and Oregon coastlines are under tsunami warnings after a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck offshore Wednesday morning.

The earthquake hit at 10:44 a.m. PT, about 60 miles southwest of Ferndale, California, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The tremor prompted the National Tsunami Warning Center to issue warnings from Davenport, California, to Douglas, Oregon, encompassing major areas like San Francisco Bay and Eureka.

“Tsunami warnings mean a tsunami with significant flooding is possible or already occurring,” the National Weather Service (NWS) said in a statement. Officials caution that a tsunami is not a single wave but a series of dangerous surges that could continue for hours.

Residents in low-lying coastal areas have been urged to evacuate to higher ground. Tsunami waves could potentially reach San Francisco by midday, according to officials.