Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 23, 2003
Earthquake of 6.5 magnitude shakes central California
An earthquake of 6.5 magnitude rocked a central coastal area in the western US state of California, and was felt widely throughout the region Monday. The quake, which occurred at around 11:16 a.m. local time, was even felt as a sustained but gentle rolling motion in a vast areaof southern California.
An earthquake of 6.5 magnitude rocked a central coastal area in the western US state of California, and was felt widely throughout the region Monday. The quake, which occurred at around 11:16 a.m. local time, was even felt as a sustained but gentle rolling motion in a vast area of southern California.
It was believed to be centered about 7 miles (11 kilometers) east of San Simeon, near newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst's castle in central California.
The US Geological Survey gave it a preliminary magnitude of 6.5,and said it was centered north of the coastal town of Cambria in San Luis Obispo County, about 185 miles (296 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles. The county has a population of around 250,000. Initial reports said there were no major property damages or casualties from the quake, except that it knocked out power in thelocal area and injured some workers at a winery.
San Luis Obispo County police spokesman Pete Hodgkin said damage reports were trickling in.
"It's the usual stuff, broken glass and stuff. Haven't heard anything serious," Hodgkin said. "Some people are hurt at the Wildhorse Winery, some wine barrels fell over. I don't know anything more."
"It's kind of hectic," he said. "It felt like a big one, like the San Francisco earthquake years ago. The lights went out. We'reon emergency power here. We felt some small ones earlier but nobody believed us."
Lucy Jones, scientist in charge of the US Geological Survey office in Pasadena, said it was lucky that the quake occurred on the coast. "That's a good thing," Jones said.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers were checking freeway overpasses for possible damage, an officer said.