Strongest Quake Since 1940 Shakes Rural California Region

Northern California got a sharp reminder of its seismic reality Wednesday morning, but not a disastrous one. A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck just after 8am local time near Redwood Valley in Mendocino County, the most powerful quake recorded in that rural region since 1940, according to the US Geological Survey. Shaking was reported across the area and alerts rippled through the Bay Area, but there were no immediate reports of major damage, USA Today reports. The Mendocino County Executive Office said some injuries were reported but there were no deaths caused by the quake, reports CBS News.

The quake's epicenter was a little over 6 miles from Redwood Valley and about 8 miles deep. Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said he had been briefed and that state officials were working with local agencies to assess any impacts. For context, quakes in the mid-5 range can cause minor structural damage, while major destruction typically begins at magnitudes above 7. Three smaller aftershocks, all under 2.7 magnitude, hit near the epicenter within an hour, the AP reports. California seismologist Lucy Jones says the area is not on a major fault. "The area is not without earthquakes, but they're usually smaller than this," she says.