5.5 magnitude earthquake, large aftershock hit Northern California; minor damage reported
This photo provided by Plumas Pines Resort and Bar shows a portion of the damage done to Plumas Pines Resort & Bar in Almanor, Calif., following a 5.5 earthquake in Lake Almanor at around 4:20 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Credit: Plumas Pines Resort and Bar via AP
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This photo provided by Plumas Pines Resort and Bar shows a portion of the damage done to Plumas Pines Resort & Bar in Almanor, Calif., following a 5.5 earthquake in Lake Almanor at around 4:20 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Credit: Plumas Pines Resort and Bar via AP
Earthquakes have rattled a large area of Northern California this week, but only minor damage was immediately reported.
A magnitude 5.5 quake centered in the Sierra Nevada's Lake Almanor resort region struck at 4:19 p.m. Thursday and a magnitude 5.2 aftershock occurred at 3:18 a.m. Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
reported local businesses were cleaning up minor damage in the area about 180 miles (290 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco.
"A lot of broken glass, a lot of broken dishes, a lot of broken liquor from upstairs," Stephanie Hughes, a local restaurant manager, told the station after the Thursday afternoon quake.
"Everything was shaking. Customers were fleeing onto the lawn," said Hughes.
People reported feeling the earthquake all the way to Sacramento, about 160 miles (260 kilometers) south.
This photo provided by Plumas Pines Resort and Bar shows a portion of the damage done to Plumas Pines Resort & Bar in Almanor, Calif., following a 5.5 earthquake in Lake Almanor at around 4:20 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Credit: Plumas Pines Resort and Bar via AP
× close
This photo provided by Plumas Pines Resort and Bar shows a portion of the damage done to Plumas Pines Resort & Bar in Almanor, Calif., following a 5.5 earthquake in Lake Almanor at around 4:20 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Credit: Plumas Pines Resort and Bar via AP
This photo provided by Plumas Pines Resort and Bar shows a portion of the damage done to Plumas Pines Resort & Bar in Almanor, Calif., following a 5.5 earthquake in Lake Almanor at around 4:20 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Credit: Plumas Pines Resort and Bar via AP
× close
This photo provided by Plumas Pines Resort and Bar shows a portion of the damage done to Plumas Pines Resort & Bar in Almanor, Calif., following a 5.5 earthquake in Lake Almanor at around 4:20 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Credit: Plumas Pines Resort and Bar via AP
The magnitude 5.5 quake was the largest in California since the magnitude 7.1 Ridgecrest sequence in 2019, according to former USGS seismologist Lucy Jones, who now runs a center focusing on making communities more resilient to disasters.