California city was shaken by the earthquake again

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The first earthquake cracked and closed the Fernbridge, a historic arch bridge connecting the nearby town of Ferndale to Eureka, the largest city in Humboldt County, across the Eel River. The bridge has been repaired and reopened, only to be closed again Sunday for safety checks, according to the California Department of Transportation. The bridge reopened on Sunday evening.

Fire officials said 30 calls to emergency services came in the first two hours after the quake struck. Other fire departments were called in to assist. As of Sunday afternoon, officials said, about 30 percent of the town was without water and half of it without electricity. Some homes were damaged.

“There are new homes off their foundations,” said Rio Del Fire Chief Shane Wilson. He said the damage from this earthquake seems to have spread a bit more in the central and eastern part of the city rather than being concentrated in the northern part of the city, as happened with the last quake.

Rafael Abreu Paris, a geophysicist at the USGS, said the quake is considered to be an aftershock of the December 20 earthquake. Seismologists say that aftershocks, which are usually less intense than the first major earthquakes, are normal after a major quake. But even a medium-sized or smaller earthquake can feel violent and cause damage depending on its location, depth, and type.

Mr Paris said the December 20 earthquake triggered a series of marine aftershocks. More than 50 aftershocks followed the December earthquake, including a large quake about five minutes later with a magnitude of 4.6 on the Richter scale.

He said the Jan. 1 quake was part of a different set of internal aftershocks but occurred in the same tectonic process. More aftershocks are possible.

Jason Freitas, a local resident, said the intensity of Sunday’s earthquake seemed familiar. “It was very similar to the earthquake that just happened,” he said. “Everything has violently shook off the walls.” The difference, he said, is that his apartment suffered more damage this time. When that happened, he threw his shirt off and ran outside. “It was really an integral part of living in California.”

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