5.2 Earthquake, Aftershocks Hit N. California; No Injuries Reported

EUREKA, Calif. — A moderate earthquake Friday afternoon about 50 miles south of here broke windows and shook products off store shelves, but no injuries have been reported, officials said.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, the 5.2 temblor occurred at 3:33 p.m. near Petrolia and offshore along the Mendocino fracture zone where the San Andreas Fault goes into the Pacific.

There was a second jolt and a number of aftershocks, said survey spokeswoman Edna King. But she said the magnitude of the second quake has not been determined.

Wayne Sedam, chief of police in Ferndale, about 40 miles north of Petrolia, said he received a few reports of items falling off shelves and a couple of plate glass windows breaking.

“I think it scared people more than hurt anything else,” he said.

Mike McGuire, coordinator for the state Office of Emergency Services in Eureka, said the only reports of damage he received were of things falling off shelves in stores and windows breaking.