An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck the Gulf of California on Sunday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said. Mexico’s civil defense office confirmed that there were no immediate reports of damage in the areas where the earthquake was felt but recommended boats, and the nearby coastal population take precautions due to possible currents in ports. The quake hit at a depth of 10 km, EMSC added. Shortly after the quake occurred, the U.S. Tsunami Warning System said there was no tsunami danger for the U.S. West Coast, British Columbia, or Alaska. Slight variations in seawater levels of a few centimeters may be detected in the region where the quake happened, the Mexican civil defense office later said via Twitter.
The quake was centered below the Pacific Ocean in the area known as the Sea of Cortez, between the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula and Mazatlan in Sinaloa state. The Gulf of California is seismically active because it’s an area where the Pacific and North American tectonic plates are grinding against each other.
A tsunami alert was issued for Tonga, Hawaii, and American Samoa, warning of sea-level fluctuations and strong ocean currents that could threaten beaches and harbors. The warning was canceled at 2:20 p.m. Pacific time and a watch for the state of Hawaii was canceled at 2:16 p.m. Pacific time, according to the National Weather Service.
In California, a small tsunami wave was observed near San Francisco at about 1:15 p.m. local time, according to the city’s Department of Emergency Services. The agency advised residents in San Francisco and other parts of the bay area to move away from the shore. The tsunami waves were about 1 foot high, the department said. Oregon and Washington were also expecting small tsunami waves, and the National Weather Service said people in those states should take precautions if they live on or near beaches, harbors, and marinas.
The U.S. has a tsunami warning system that alerts coastal residents in advance of big waves. But a recent report by an independent government panel warns that the system needs an overhaul, with outdated technology and delayed forecasts creating confusion when disaster strikes. The panel says “urgent” problems need to be addressed before another tsunami hits the U.S., as has been the case in the past. The Tsunami Science & Technology Advisory Panel wrote the report, independent of NOAA and its research arm, NOAA’s Tsunami Program. Its members include experts from universities, the military, and industry. The panel was formed after the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people in December 2004.
