California tsunami warning cancelled after 7.0 magnitude earthquake hits off the state’s coast

The earlier quake, which hit at a shallow depth of 10 km, was centred about 39 miles west of the town of Ferndale in northern California, the US Geological Survey said.

The National Tsunami Center has issued a warning spanning much of the US west coast – stretching from Dunes City in Oregon, to San Francisco and San Jose in California, 400 miles away.

But just before midday local time, the warning was cancelled.

The tsunami was forecast to hit the California coast at 12.10pm Pacific Time – or 8.10pm in the UK – before the alert was called off.

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s team wrote on social media that he was “meeting with state emergency officials and working to ensure Californians are safe”.

The earthquake had initially been designated a 6.6 on the Richter Scale – but was then bumped up to a 7.0.

Disaster preparedness group Listos California said to residents: “If you are near the coast after an earthquake, you may need to evacuate as soon as the shaking stops. Earthquakes can lead to tsunamis, and you should not return until there is an all-clear announcement.”

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While San Francisco’s Mayor, London Breed, told locals to move “at least one block” inland as public safety personnel descended on the state’s fourth-largest city.

As the tsunami warning was lifted, the National Weather Service said to “exercise normal caution near the sea” and that “no action is required”.

But in the wake of the earlier earthquake, officials still warned of aftershocks.

The San Francisco Fire Department said: “Earthquake! Watch out for broken glass and fallen items.

“Seek shelter and be prepared for more shaking from aftershocks. Check in with family as able. Evacuate if you smell gas, see smoke or fire.”

While nearby Berkeley’s police department had issued an evacuation order for parts of the city on the San Francisco Bay “due to a Tsunami coming to West Berkeley,” according to an alert sent to residents.