Numerous Injuries, Major Damage, Significant Fires Reported After Strong Earthquake Rocks California

Luke 21:10-11, “Then He said to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven …’”

Romans 8:22, “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.”

A truck navigates around a buckled section of California’s Highway 12. Photograph: Peter DaSilva/EPA

The Guardian – “A hospital in the city of Napa, in California’s northern Bay Area, has treated more than 70 patients so far after a strong earthquake hit at around 3.30am on Sunday, causing widespread damage.

The Napa city government reported two serious injuries resulting from what it called a 6.1 magnitude quake. Four mobile homes were destroyed and two were still on fire in the northern part of the city, it said, and there were 50 gas main breaks, 30 water main leaks and damage to historic buildings as well as to commercial properties.

Napa fire chief Darren Drake said the quake caused six significant fires.

Vanessa DeGier, spokeswoman for Queen of the Valley hospital in Napa, told the Associated Press most of those treated had cuts, bumps and bruises. DeGier said the facility had also treated a hip fracture and heart attack, but it was unclear if it was related to the earthquake.

There were no reports of any fatalities, Barry Martin, public information officer for Napa, said. He said he did not have details on the injuries.

The earthquake struck about 10 miles northwest of American Canyon, which is about six miles southwest of Napa in California wine country, Leslie Gordon of the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. It was the largest earthquake to shake the Bay Area since the 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta quake in 1989, the USGS said.

Unreinforced masonry buildings in downtown Napa including the historic courthouse and library suffered major damage, city officials said.

‘There’s collapses, fires,’ said Napa fire captain Doug Bridewell, standing in front of large pieces of masonry from a turn-of-the-century office building where a fire had just been extinguished. ‘That’s the worst shaking I’ve ever been in.’

Bridewell, who said he had to climb over fallen furniture in his own home to check on his family before reporting to duty, said he was starting to see more reports of injuries.

‘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.'” Read more.

Flashback: California: Earthquakes Are Increasing, But Scientists Aren’t Sure What It Means – “No, it’s not your imagination: The Los Angeles area is feeling more earthquakes this year. After a relatively quiet period of seismic activity in the Los Angeles area, the last five months have been marked by five earthquakes larger than 4.0. That hasn’t occurred since 1994, the year of the destructive Northridge earthquake that produced 53 such temblors. Over the next two decades, there were some years that passed without a single quake 4.0 or greater. Earthquake experts said 2014 is clearly a year of increased seismic activity, but they said it’s hard to know whether the recent string of quakes suggests that a larger one is on the way.” Read more.