Another Earthquake Shakes Northern California Coast

3.8-magnitude earthquake in California

Mendocino Fault remains active

Dozens of minor aftershocks recorded

Another earthquake shook the northern coast of California on Wednesday morning.

The 3.8-magnitude quake was detected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) around 8 a.m. Pacific Time.

The epicenter was located in the Mendocino Fracture Zone, a dangerous fault off the coast of Humboldt County, near the town of Petrolia.

According to the USGS, this fault has the potential to produce high-magnitude earthquakes, even above 7, keeping scientists on alert.

Another Earthquake Reported in California

BREAKING: CALIFORNIA HIT BY ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE
A 3.8-magnitude quake struck off Northern California moments ago, jolting the Mendocino Fault back to life. It’s the second quake this week, following Monday’s 5.2 in the south.
Source: Daily Mail pic.twitter.com/j3fdckqipx

— $WEN BURN? (@wen_burn_wen) April 16, 2025

In fact, the area was already the site of a powerful earthquake in December 2024, which reached a magnitude of 7.0 and triggered a tsunami warning.

That event caused panic among coastal residents, especially in Eureka and San Francisco, where an aftershock was also felt.

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Following Wednesday morning’s earthquake in California, emergency alerts were sent to mobile phones.

The message was clear: “Earthquake detected! Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Protect yourself.”

Where Was the Epicenter?

The USGS also reported that the epicenter of the recent earthquake was located 2.49 miles south of Julian, a town in California.

This tremor occurred shortly after another quake was felt in the southern part of the state on the previous Monday, which was reported by more than 40,000 people.

Over the past 24 hours, the Humboldt area has registered dozens of small earthquakes, although most did not exceed a magnitude of 2.5.

The Mendocino Fault, which stretches about 2,500 miles into the Pacific Ocean, continues to show consistent seismic activity. Authorities remain vigilant and urge residents to be prepared for possible future events.

What to Do During an Earthquake?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that when an earthquake begins, people should drop to their knees.

This helps prevent being knocked down by the shaking and allows for crawling if necessary.

Once down, a person should look for a place to take cover, such as under a table.

They should also cover their head and neck to avoid serious injury or anything that could prevent them from reaching a safe place where they can receive help.