 | |
  Santa Cruz Reno Eureka  | |
| UTC time | 2010-01-10 00:27:41 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 14223208 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | January 9, 2010 (2010-01-09) |
| Local time | 16:27:38 PST |
| Duration | ~10 seconds atKing Salmon[1] |
| Magnitude | 6.5Mw[2] |
| Depth | 13.5 miles (21.7 km) |
| Epicenter | 40°39′N124°46′W / 40.65°N 124.76°W /40.65; -124.76 |
| Type | Strike-slip[3] |
| Areas affected | North Coast (California) United States |
| Total damage | $21.8–43 million[4][5] |
| Max. intensity | MMI VII (Very strong)[6] |
| Aftershocks | ~24[1] |
| Casualties | 35 injuries |
The2010 Eureka earthquake occurred on January 9 at 4:27:38 pmPST offshore ofHumboldt County, California, United States. The magnitude was measured 6.5 on theMw scale, and its epicenter was located offshore in the Pacific Ocean 33 miles (53 km) west of the nearest major city,Eureka.[1][6][7][8] Additionally, there was a separate earthquake further offshore of Eureka on February 4 with a slightly lower magnitude of 5.9.[9] It was also the most significant earthquake in the Eureka area in terms of magnitude since the1992 Cape Mendocino earthquakes.[10] It was felt from Santa Cruz County, California in the south, to Eugene, Oregon in the north and to the east as far as Reno, Nevada.[7]
NearCape Mendocino, theMendocino triple junction is an area of active seismicity where three tectonic plates come together. TheMendocino fracture zone (also known as the Mendocino Fault east of theGorda Ridge) is atransform fault that separates thePacific andGorda plates. To the south, the relative motion between the Pacific plate andNorth American plate is accommodated by theSan Andreas Fault, and to the north, the Gorda plate is converging with the North American plate at theCascadia subduction zone.[11]
Structural damage was inflicted among olderVictorian houses, power was severed for several hours, and windows were shattered. In addition, 28,000 customers ofPacific Gas and Electric Co., mostly those from Humboldt County, were left without electricity and phone services as a result.[8]
In Eureka, the Old Town Bar and Grill building was previously believed to be severely damaged beyond repair and ordered demolished by the city, until a developer purchased and renovated it in 2011.[12] The town's high school, known asEureka High School, and the Bayshore Mall were damaged and briefly closed, though both were later reopened with close to full services. An auditorium at Eureka High remained closed over concerns regarding its structural safety as of June 15, 2010.[13] A total of 463 buildings sustained damage as a result of the earthquake, leaving $21.8–43 million in losses.[4][5]
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