Quake rocks California's Napa valley, causing damage
(Reuters) - An earthquake of 6.0 magnitude rocked the San Francisco Bay area early on Sunday, seriously injuring two people, damaging historic buildings, setting some homes on fire and causing power outages in the wine country around Napa.
The biggest quake in the region in 25 years jolted many residents out of bed when it hit at 3:20 a.m. local time (1020 GMT), centered six miles (10 km) south of the city of Napa.
Two people were seriously injured in the earthquake, Barry Martin, public information officer for Napa, said by telephone. He said he did not have details on the injuries.
There were no reports of any fatalities, Martin said.
Fire fighters were still trying to put out mobile home fires, he said.
Most damage appeared centered around Napa, a famous wine-producing region.
Unreinforced masonry buildings in downtown Napa including the historic courthouse and the library suffered major damage, city officials said.
Fires were reported in north Napa, as well as several water line breaks and many broken windows and buildings with interior damage, the city's website said.
"Everything was just shaking, the hanging lamps waving back and forth," said Omar Lopez, 24, night clerk at a small inn in St. Helena, 15 minutes outside of Napa.
"Guests came into the front desk after the quake and they said the swimming pool looked like a bunch of people had jumped in at the same time.”
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the epicenter of the quake was five miles (eight km) northwest of the town of American Canyon, on the northern edge of the Bay.
The biggest quake in the region in 25 years jolted many residents out of bed when it hit at 3:20 a.m. local time (1020 GMT), centered six miles (10 km) south of the city of Napa.
Two people were seriously injured in the earthquake, Barry Martin, public information officer for Napa, said by telephone. He said he did not have details on the injuries.
There were no reports of any fatalities, Martin said.
Fire fighters were still trying to put out mobile home fires, he said.
Most damage appeared centered around Napa, a famous wine-producing region.
Unreinforced masonry buildings in downtown Napa including the historic courthouse and the library suffered major damage, city officials said.
Fires were reported in north Napa, as well as several water line breaks and many broken windows and buildings with interior damage, the city's website said.
"Everything was just shaking, the hanging lamps waving back and forth," said Omar Lopez, 24, night clerk at a small inn in St. Helena, 15 minutes outside of Napa.
"Guests came into the front desk after the quake and they said the swimming pool looked like a bunch of people had jumped in at the same time.”
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the epicenter of the quake was five miles (eight km) northwest of the town of American Canyon, on the northern edge of the Bay.