Eureka Quake Causes Minor Damage

The latest in a series of moderate earthquakes on California’s North Coast rattled the Eureka area Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The 12:29 p.m. temblor, which measured 4.2 in magnitude, was centered in the Pacific 15 miles west of Eureka. It caused minor damage in Arcata, mainly items falling off shelves in homes, said Lori Dengler, a Humboldt State University seismologist.

There have been at least four quakes in the magnitude 4 range either off the North Coast or inland in the last six weeks. The area is one of California’s most seismically active and is the only place in the state that has a tsunami warning system for seismic sea waves.