5.0 Quake Strikes Off CA Coast Near Major Fault Zone – Patch

5.0 Quake Strikes Off CA Coast Near Major Fault Zone  Patch

The earthquake struck Wednesday evening near the Mendocino Fault, where three tectonic plates converge offshore. MENDOCINO, CA — A 5.0-magnitude earthquake struck approximately 62 miles off the coast of Mendocino Wednesday night, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake struck at 8:56 p.m. Wednesday near the Mendocino Triple Junction, where three tectonic plates interact. The region has seen some enormous earthquakes, including a magnitude 7.1 in 1992, followed by two magnitude 6.6 aftershocks.

The sequence generated a tsunami. Wednesday’s earthquake took place at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to USGS. Although it was a moderate earthquake, residents on the coast did not report feeling it, according to USGS’s “Did You Feel It” map. A smaller, 2.5-magnitude quake took place Thursday at 1:01 a.m. just north of Ukiah, but no reports were generated on the Did You Feel It? Map.