Thousands without power following 6.0-magnitude earthquake in California
Posted August 25, 2014 6:45 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Thousands are without power on Monday morning and homes have been ransacked in the wake of a 6.0-magnitude earthquake that hit California’s wine country, southwest of Napa Valley.
At least three people are reported to have critical injuries, including young girl who was struck by a falling fireplace.
A Napa hospital reports treating nearly 90 patients for injuries.
Ruptured gas lines left many buildings in flames and broken watermains left firefighters with no water. Emergency officials have said these buildings are the first priority.
At least five aftershocks followed the quake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, with more expected.
California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency to free up additional resources for the cleanup.
Wine country was also hit, as casks capable of filling 300 bottles of wine apiece toppled and spilled down the drain.
It is the strongest earthquake to hit the San Francisco Bay area since 1989.