A large earthquake rolled through California’s northern Bay Area early Sunday, damaging some buildings, igniting fires, knocking out power to tens of thousands and sending residents running out of their homes in the darkness. Two major injuries have been reported, and hospitals have been very busy with moderate injuries, Napa Division Fire Chief John Callanan said. The 6.0-magnitude quake caused six significant fires, including at four mobile homes, Napa Division Fire Chief Darren Drake said. The damage from the fires is not yet clear but it appears significant, he said. Several other smaller fires have been reported and firefighting efforts have been complicated by broken water mains. The earthquake struck just before 3:30 a.m. about 6 miles (10 kilometers) southwest of Napa, in California wine country, Leslie Gordon of the U.S. Geological Survey said. It’s the largest earthquake to shake the Bay Area since the 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta quake in 1989, the USGS said.
Macroseismic analysis
Earthquake epicenter: North California – USA
Date 24/08/2014 UTC 10:20:44
Latitude 38.22° N Longitude 122.31° W
Magnitude 6.0 Depth 11.3 Km
The following analysis shows the macroseismical effects based on a model hereby displayed. The reported macroseismic effects may vary (one or two levels, up or down) depending on the characteristics of local geology or buildings. If not expressly indicated, earthquake perception is intended during the day. Peak ground acceleration is expressed in cm/s².
Values and terms do not coincide with other seismic scales.
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Nearby cities 5 Km far from the epicenter:
Poseidon’s Vineyard, Napa County Airport, The Carneros Inn
11- Ruinous earthquake 300 < PGA < 600 ( VIII MCS )
Seismic shaking is very strong; it is preceeded by a roar clearly heard by everyone. Furniture is overthrown. People panic, hardly move but desperately try to get out from buildings; there are only a few victims but several injured. Driving is very difficult. Old houses and monuments partially collapse; stutues fall from pedistals. Old towns and historical sites are almost destroyed. Ordinary buildings are damaged and can’t be accessed. Apparently earthquake resistant buildings aren’t damaged. There are big cracks in the ground; rocks come down from hills. Some communication routes are interrupted. Pipeage is partially damaged. A weak tsunami is generated. Even if the situation is serious, a few reports arrive through the internet.
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Nearby cities from 5 Km to 17 Km far from the epicenter:
American Canyon, Napa, Vallejo, Sonoma
10- Harmful earthquake 150 < PGA < 300 ( VII MCS )
Seismic shake is very strong; people who drive on bumpy roads may not feel it. The event is preceeded by an intense and wide roar, often heard inside buildings. All objects, mirrors, glasses, fall down and break inside houses; furniture moves. People panic and run outside. There are just a few victims and injured. The structure of old houses and monuments is damaged; big cracks in walls; doors and windows break; tiles and chimneys break and fall. Ordinary buildings have shallow damages and can be accessed. A few cracks on the ground; only a few roads get damaged. Even if the situation is serious, a lot of reports come from the affected area.
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Nearby cities from 17 Km to 31 Km far from the epicenter:
Fairfield, Crockett, Petaluma, Benicia, Pinole, Martinez, El Sobrante
9- Strong earthquake 80 < PGA < 150 ( VI MCS )
Seismic shake is intense and only a few people, inside moving vehicles, can’t feel it. The event is preceeded by a roar, often heard even inside the houses; who sleeps, wakes up. Furniture and objects vibrate loudly; unsteady objects fall. Doors and windows open and close. Chandeliers oscillate widely. People are terrified and run out of buildings. Someone gets hurt or is suddenly taken ill. Old buildings are damaged: cracks in walls; broken windows; broken chimneys. Ordinary buildings are not particularly damaged. A high number of reports arrive through the internet.
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Nearby cities from 31 Km to 53 Km far from the epicenter:
San Francisco, Berkeley, Vacaville, Penngrove, Santa Rosa, St Helena
8- Notable earthquake 40 < PGA < 80 ( V MCS )
Inside the houses almost everyone feels the earthquake, and sometimes even the preceeding roar; outside many perceive a vibration. Seismic shake is intense and wakes up several people. Objects vibrate, some of them fall. Chandeliers oscillate widely. Doors and windows open and close. People are scared and run out of buildings. Old houses and monuments are lightly damaged. Several reports arrive from the affected area.
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Nearby cities from 53 Km to 89 Km far from the epicenter:
Sacramento, Davis, Hayward, Fremont, Pleasanton, Daly City, Dublin
7- Moderate earthquake 20 < PGA < 40 ( IV MCS )
Inside the houses, many people feel the earthquake. Seismic vibration is very intense and wakes up who’s sleeping. Chandeliers oscillate widely. Windows and objects shake;People are scared; many of them get out of buildings. Outside many people clearly feel the earthquake and hear the preceeding roar. Buildings are not externally damaged. Many reports arrive from the affected area.
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Nearby cities from 89 Km to 148 Km far from the epicenter:
San Jose, Modesto, Yuba City, Santa Cruz, Cupertino, Sunnyvale
6- Mild earthquake 10 < PGA < 20 ( III – IV MCS )
Lots of people inside buildings feel a strong seismic vibration. Chandeliers oscillate noticeably; crakles and tinkles can be heard. Someone of those who sleep, wakes up. Several people prefer to go outside, as a safety measure. Outside several people feel the vibration, they clearly hear that particular sound preceeding the earthquake. Many reports arrive through the internet.
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Nearby cities from 148 Km to 244 Km far from the epicenter:
Watsonville, Pollok Pines, Monterey, Salinas, Pioneer
5- Light earthquake 5 < PGA < 10 ( III MCS )
Inside buildings, some people feel a vibration. Chandeliers oscillate; A tinkle of glasses shattered can be heard. Someone decides to go outside, as a safety measure. Outside only a few people feel the earthquake; before the event, a few people hear a noise, like a far away thunder. From the affected area many reports arrive.
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Nearby cities from 244 Km to 403 Km far from the epicenter:
Kings Canyon National PK, Reno, San Miguel, Clovis, Sparks
4- Weak earthquake 2.5 < PGA < 5.0 ( II – III MCS )
A relevant number of people, inside buildings in in quietness, feels a moderate vibration. Chandeliers oscillate; a tinkle of glasses shattering can be heard. People who perceive these effects feel apprehension. Outside, only a few people feel the earthquake; someone hears a low frequency noise. A few reports arrive through the internet.
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Nearby cities from 403 Km to 665 Km far from the epicenter:
Los Angeles, Arvin, Ventura, Venice, Claremont
3- Tenuous earthquake 1.2 < PGA < 2.5 ( II MCS )
In the higest and middle floors, a few people perceive a light vibration. Chandeliers oscillate. People feel apprehension. Outside, almost nobody feels the earthquake.From the affected area, only a few reports arrive; sometimes a light sound is heard.
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Nearby cities from 665 Km to 1097 Km far from the epicenter:
Las Vegas, Seattle, San Diego, Phoenix, Portland,
2- Insignificant earthquake 0.6 < PGA < 1.2 ( I – II MCS )
In the highest floors and in quietness, a few people feel a very light vibration, but there isn’t any concern. Outside nobody feels anything. No sound of the earthquake can be heard. Only a few reports arrive through the internet.
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Nearby cities from 1097 Km to 1808 Km far from the epicenter:
Tucson, Denver, Vancouver, Calgary, Juarez,
1- Unperceivable earthquake 0.3 < PGA < 0.6 ( I MCS )
The intensity is irrelevant; the earthquake is recorded by seismic stations in the region. Even in the best-case scenario, almost nobody feels the shaking, not even in the highest floors. No reports come from the area.
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Cities beyond 1808 Km from the epicenter.
0- Instrumental earthquake PGA < 0.3 ( I MCS )
Earthquake is unsubstantial; it is recorded by seismic stations with advanced instruments. Even in the best-case scenario, people don’t feel the earthquake.
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