Huge 7.0 California earthquake sparks tsunami warning in San Francisco Bay Area – live updates

The National Weather Service called off the tsunami warning for the coastal areas of California and Oregon.

‘No tsunami danger presently exists for this area,’ the agency said.

Seismologists have long-warned the Golden State is overdue a devastating earthquake measuring at least 7.8 on the Richter scale.

The San Andreas fault bisects the entire state of California and is the cause of the region’s quakes.

In simple terms, it is the divide between two of the Earth’s tectonic plates – the North American and Pacific plates.

These plates are constantly moving but sometimes get stuck against one another.

When they eventually unstick, the resulting release of pressure is what we know as an earthquake.

A huge quake with its epicenter inland occurs once every 150 to 200 years.

The devastating 1989 Loma Pieta and 1906 San Francisco earthquakes both had their epicenters offshore, offering an indication as to just how devastating the Big One will be.

At least six aftershocks in the last 10 minutes, including a 4.2-magnitude quake near Petrolia, California, have been reported.

At least a dozen aftershocks have taken place since the original 7.0-magnitude quake occurred, according to CNN.

The San Francisco fire department issued a dire warning to residents on Friday as the tsunami approached, telling them to ‘move now’.

Residents near the coast have been advised to move inland by 1 mile or 100ft.

Terrifying video shows snaking lines of traffic near the coast as panicked Californians rush to higher ground.

The City of Berkeley issued an evacuation order for residents of West Berkley.

‘People in the Tsunami Zone are in IMMEDIATE DANGER and MUST EVACUATE NOW. Stay east of 7th St. This is a lawful order to leave now,’ the city said.

The earthquake on Thursday is one of the few 7 magnitude quakes to rock the Golden State. While it occurred 50 miles off the coast, its effects were felt on shore.

It is not, however, the strongest.

In 1857, a monster 7.9 magnitude earthquake rattled the region. It became known as the Fort Tejon earthquake.

The worst in the state’s history is considered the Great California Earthquale of 1906. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed 3,000 people and rendered 300,000 people homeless after rocking San Francisco.

San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California are warned evacuate after a tsunami warning was issued.

‘A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact coasts near you. You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now,’ the emergency alert said.

A tsunami warning is in effect from the Davenport coast to the Oregon-California border, including the San Francisco Bay area.

The National Weather Service forecast tsunami activity to start around 11:10 a.m. PST in Fort Bragg, 11:20 a.m. in Crescent City then 12:10 p.m. in San Francisco.

In Oregon, tsunami activity is predicted to start at 11:20 a.m. in Port Orford, 11:25 a.m. in Brookings then 11:40 a.m. in Charlestion.

Residents are advised to evacuate inland or to higher ground, move out of the water and off the beach and do not return until local emergency officials declare it safe.

The tremor struck near the coastal town of Eureka at 10:44 a.m. PST on Thursday, promoting a tsunami warning from the National Weather Service.

It was initially reported as a 6.6 quake but was quickly upgraded by USGS.