A 3.2-magnitude earthquake occurred near Rio Dell in Humboldt County in Northern California on Sunday.
The earthquake took place at around 11:49 a.m. on May 17, 2026, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter was located 16 kilometers south-southeast of Rio Dell, at a depth of around 29 kilometers.
A total of four people reported experiencing the quake using the USGS’s ‘Did You Feel It?’ earthquake reporting tool.
The seismic event was felt in regions, including Ferndale (located 42 kilometers from the epicenter), Fortuna (39 kilometers), and other areas of Rio Dell (33 kilometers), according to the USGS.
No damage or injuries were reported as a result of the earthquake.
USGS categorized the earthquake as a Level II seismic event, which indicates weak shaking and no damage.
An earthquake’s intensity measures the shaking at each location and varies from place to place, while the magnitude describes the size of a seismic event and has a single magnitude, according to the USGS. The magnitude replaces the old Richter scale, as the magnitude scale is a more accurate measure of an earthquake’s size.
The quake near Rio Dell was followed by a seismic event in nearby Petrolia.
Minor Tremor Near Petrolia
A minor earthquake rattled near Petrolia, which is located around 30 kilometers from Rio Dell, around midnight on Monday.
A 2.3-magnitude earthquake occurred six kilometers south-southwest of Petrolia, according to the USGS.
The quake was reported at around 12:45 a.m. on May 18. The epicenter was located at a depth of nearly 17 kilometers.
Officials reported no injuries or structural damage from the seismic event.
No responses were submitted on the USGS’s ‘Did You Feel It?’ reporting system.
The Rio Dell region experiences frequent earthquakes because it is located atop the ‘Mendocino Triple Junction,’ in Humboldt County. This junction is an area where three tectonic plates, the Pacific Plate, the North American Plate, and the Gorda Plate, meet and grind past one another.
In December 2022, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck near Ferndale, around 25 kilometers from Petrolia. The intense shaking was felt at several places, including Rio Dell.
How to Stay Safe During an Earthquake?
The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover, and hold on, according to officials.
It is advisable to stay indoors when an earthquake strikes and take cover under sturdy furniture.
If there is no furniture, crouch next to a wall and cover your head and neck with your arms.
If you are outdoors, it is advisable to drop to the ground and stay there until the shaking stops completely.
Do not take cover under tall buildings, trees, or power lines.
Comments
0 Comments deleted by Administrator