Powerful earthquake hits California sending shockwaves up the coast Powerful earthquake hits California sending shockwaves up the coast 
Shockwaves were sent hundreds of miles across California’s Central Coast yesterday (Tuesday) following a 4.1 magnitude earthquake. The shake was recorded at 9.45am, near Templeton, but tremors were reported up and down the coastline – from Salinas in the north to Lompoc in the south. (Picture: LastQuake/X)
Over 1,000 people reported feeling a tremor to the US Geological Survey (USGS), and the quake’s location sparked fears of a potential tsunami, but the USGS later confirmed there was ‘no tsunami warning, advisory, watch, or threat.’ Officials in Canada told its citizens the California earthquake posed no tsunami threat to British Columbia. (Picture: Getty)
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However, the USGS has reported that there is a 21% chance of a magnitude 3 or higher earthquake striking in the next week, along with a 3% or higher chance of a magnitude 4 or higher in the same timeframe. Templeton is situated near the San Andreas Fault, which is the major plate boundary responsible for California’s seismic activity. (Picture: USGS)
In a blog, the USGS said: ‘The San Andreas Fault can generate the region’s largest magnitude earthquakes (up to about M8.2). The most recent “Big One” on this fault in southern California was the M7.9 Fort Tejon earthquake of 1857, which was strongly felt throughout Los Angeles.’ (Picture: Getty)
A repeat of the ‘Big One’ could cause around 1,800 deaths, 50,000 injuries and $200 billion in damages, according to the Great California Shakeout. The second strongest earthquake from this fault hit San Francisco in 1906 with a magnitude of 7.8. The 1906 event caused a major fire and killed as many as 3,000 people, earning the name ‘The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake’. The quake lasted for around one minute and was felt from southern Oregon to just south of Los Angeles and as far inland as central Nevada. (Picture: Photo12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
It’s thought that the San Andreas Fault causes a major quake every 150 years or so, and the last one was 167 years ago. California is known as the third most seismically active US state, following Hawaii and Alaska. This year, so far, California has experienced more than 14,000 tremors, compared to Alaska, which is nearing 60,000. But California has more earthquakes that cause damage due to its higher population and extensive infrastructure. (Picture: Gary Miller/Getty Images)
It’s not just earthquakes that California needs to keep an eye out on. The USGS said: ‘Southern California is also home to small areas of volcanic and geothermal activity, including Coso, north of Ridgecrest, and in the area south of the Salton Sea. In these areas, hot fluid or magma is moving through the crust, causing local stresses and fracture movement.’ (Picture: Getty)
‘These areas frequently experience seismic swarms, which are clusters of earthquakes that have no clear mainshock. They may consist of many thousands of events and can last for hours, days, or years. Seismic swarms are also observed elsewhere in southern California, indicating localised movement of crustal fluids.’ (Picture: Getty)


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