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Earthquake Hits Central California


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CNN) -- A strong earthquake that could be felt from Los Angeles to San Francisco hit the central California coast Monday, but witnesses and authorities had few immediate reports of damage.

 

The quake registered a preliminary magnitude of 6.5 when it hit about 11:15 a.m. (2:15 p.m. ET), the U.S. Geological Survey said.

 

Its epicenter was about six miles northeast of the town of San Simeon, about 240 miles north of Los Angeles and 200 miles south of San Francisco.

 

More than 30 aftershocks were reported in the hour after the quake, with the strongest measuring at about 4.7.

 

"We had a very good earthquake, a sustained one. It seemed it went on for a good solid minute," said Mary Carson, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce in nearby Cambria. "At first, it felt like a big truck was going by. Then it kind of rolled."

 

Park rangers in San Simeon ordered evacuation of the Hearst Castle, the palatial home built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, a worker at the attraction's gift shop said. The castle is now a state historic site.

 

The quake was "most certainly felt" in the control room of the El Diablo nuclear plant, about 100 miles from the epicenter, but a spokesman said it had no known impact on plant operations, which continued without interruption.

 

A spokeswoman for the Cambria Fire Department said firefighters had received only one call about a structure that was on fire, "but I haven't had that confirmed."

 

"Right now, nothing severe has been reported," said Greg Haas, an aide to U.S. Rep. Lois Capps, the area's congresswoman. "But it's pretty early, and communication is limited."

 

The quake was felt as a sustained rolling motion in Los Angeles and San Francisco, CNN crews in both cities reported.

 

The earthquake was considered a strong one, said Brian Lassiege, a USGS geophysicist. It was relatively shallow, striking about 4.7 miles below the Earth's surface, he said.

 

Lassiege said shallower earthquakes tend to inflict more damage, but there were few immediate reports of damage or injuries.

 

Carson said her building swayed as the quake hit.

 

"Things did fall off the shelves, a couple of windows broke and some ceilings came apart," she said. "But, as far as I can tell, I haven't heard of any injuries or severe damage."

 

 

 

hope no one got hurt :(

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Felt it here too...was sitting at my comp and I thought I was dizzy cause nothing else was moving...the kids didn't say anything...and one of them was lying on the floor...this far away it felt very gentl and a rolling feeling....but those poor people in Los Robles I think...how sad....so scary...
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Whaddya mean you were still in bed?!

Well it was only 11AM ... I was slowly about to get up though anyway. That's probably why I felt it.

 

But seems like a couple of people lost their lives in this. Very sad to hear and definitely puts things in perspective as any second something like this can come rolling through with such unbelievable furry. :(

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