Magnitude 6.4 Earthquake Hits off Southern Oregon Coast with No Tsunami Expected for NorCal

At 8:05 am on Thursday, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake was detected in the Pacific Ocean approximately 171 miles northwest of Bandon, Oregon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Even though the size a proximity could spell tsunami trouble for Northern California coastal communities, officials announced that a tsunami was not expected.

Magnitude 6.4 earthquake just occurred 171 miles west-northwest of Bandon, Oregon. NO Tsunami is expected. https://t.co/Wd65kKkmqv

— NWS Eureka (@NWSEureka) August 29, 2019

Even though these earthquakes happen far out into the ocean, they are a danger to the coastal communities due to the tsunamis that they might inflict. Sitting just off the coast of NorCal and Southern Oregon is where the Cascadia Subduction Zone, San Andreas Fault and Mendocino Triple Junction all meet, creating a ton of earthquakes and tremors year-round. Due to their proximity to the active earthquake zone, coastal towns in NorCal have elaborate alarm systems to warn residents of tsunamis.

On March 28, 1964, a 9.2 magnitude earthquake slammed Alaska, killing 131 people and causing $116 million in damages. It also sent a 75-foot tsunami onto the town of Crescent City, killing 12 people and causing $23 million in damage.