A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck near northern California, prompting a tsunami warning for affected areas, but while that would register as one of if not the strongest earthquakes across the country, it's not even top 10 for the Golden State.
The total damage will not be known for some time, but little to no damage has so far been reported, nor have any deaths or injuries caused by the quake.
California famously sits along the San Andreas Fault System, a major fault line that has caused some of the biggest earthquakes in U.S. history. Only Alaska matches—or, in many cases, exceeds—the frequency and magnitude of earthquakes that hit California.
A split on the north end of East Street from the earthquake, San Francisco, California, 1906. East St is now the Embarcadero. A split on the north end of East Street from the earthquake, San Francisco, California, 1906. East St is now the Embarcadero. Underwood Archives/Getty ImagesThe strongest earthquake to hit California struck in 1857 and measured magnitude 7.9, with the second strongest—but perhaps most famous—earthquake hitting in 1906, according to the California Department of Conservation.
The magnitude 7.8 San Francisco earthquake caused a major fire and killed as many as 3,000 people, earning the name "The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake," which lasted for around one minute and was felt from southern Oregon to just south of Los Angeles and as far inland as central Nevada, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
These victorian houses on Howard Street were damaged and collapsed from the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. These victorian houses on Howard Street were damaged and collapsed from the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. Bettmann / ContributorInitial reports recorded between 500 to 800 deaths, but an extensive canvas of damages and deaths made near the end of the 20th century determined the total to be around three to four times greater. The quake also displaced around 225,000 people, creating a homeless crisis.
Out of the 14 earthquakes recorded and measured near San Francisco, only three others in recent geological history struck at or over magnitude 7: A magnitude 7 in 1838, a magnitude 7 in 1868 and a magnitude 7.1 that struck in 1989, according to Earthquake Safety, Inc.
Cranes surround the Cypress Structure on Interstate 880, 19 October 1989 in San Francisco, following the earthquake estimated at 6.9 on the Richter scale that rocked California 17 October 1989. Cranes surround the Cypress Structure on Interstate 880, 19 October 1989 in San Francisco, following the earthquake estimated at 6.9 on the Richter scale that rocked California 17 October 1989. Weber/AFP via Getty ImagesAll but two of the other earthquakes were within the magnitude 6 range, the strongest of which occurred in 1836 and hit magnitude 6.8.
Before Thursday's earthquake, the two most recent earthquakes that struck the Bay Area were a 2001 earthquake along the West Napa fault, which measured magnitude 5.1, and a 2005 earthquake along the Calaveras fault which measured magnitude 5.6.
A fireman passes a heavily-damaged building behind a police line in one of the worst-hit areas of San Francisco shortly after an earthquake estimated at 7.0 on October 17, 1989. A fireman passes a heavily-damaged building behind a police line in one of the worst-hit areas of San Francisco shortly after an earthquake estimated at 7.0 on October 17, 1989. Chris Wilkins/AFP via Getty Images
How severe is a 7.0 magnitude earthquake?
California has recorded 11 earthquakes over 7.0, all but one of which occurred in the 20th century, making Thursday's earthquake the third-strongest one to hit the state in the 21st century.
The next strongest quakes occurred in Owens Valley in 1872 and nearby Eureka in 1980, both measuring magnitude 7.4. The Owens Valley quake killed 27 people and produced three aftershocks that all measured over magnitude 6.
Two men walk past the earthquake-damaged building that housed the Carpe Diem wine bar Monday, Aug. 25, 2014, in Napa, Calif. The San Francisco Bay Area's strongest earthquake in 25 years struck the heart of...Two men walk past the earthquake-damaged building that housed the Carpe Diem wine bar Monday, Aug. 25, 2014, in Napa, Calif. The San Francisco Bay Area's strongest earthquake in 25 years struck the heart of California's wine country early Sunday, igniting gas-fed fires, damaging some of the region's famed wineries and historic buildings, and sending dozens of people to hospitals. AP Photo/Eric RisbergThe strongest, more recent earthquake struck Ridgecrest in 2019 and measured magnitude 7.1 and followed an already strong magnitude 6.4 quake, though neither quake killed anyone. A 2010 earthquake in Baja California measured magnitude 7.2 and struck on Easter Sunday of that year.
The Baja earthquake killed two people, injured at least 100 people, and caused $440 million of damage in the Mexicali Valley and $90 million in California's Imperial Valley, according to the Orange County Register.
A carport is seen collapsed onto vehicles Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in Napa, Calif. Officials say an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 has been reported in California's northern San Francisco Bay area. A carport is seen collapsed onto vehicles Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in Napa, Calif. Officials say an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 has been reported in California's northern San Francisco Bay area. AP photo/Ben MargoAn earthquake in 1992 that hit Landers in San Bernardino County measured magnitude 7.3, which killed one person, injured 400 others and caused $9.1 million in damage.
The last magnitude 7.0 earthquake to hit California occurred in 1940 near El Centro, which killed 9 people and caused around $6 million in damage.
Read more
Earthquake warning prompts evacuations in San Francisco
Map shows areas of California impacted by 7.0 earthquake
California residents react to earthquake and tsunami warning
