US seismologists expect tsunami waves to hit the coast of California after an earthquake with a magnitude of 7 on the Richter scale was registered, reports AFP, quoted by BNR.
According to the US Geological Survey, the quake was registered at a depth of 10 km, almost 100 km west-southwest of Ferndale.
Smartphone users received alerts urging them to immediately move to higher ground, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
"A series of powerful waves and strong currents may affect coasts near you”, the warning said.
"You are in danger. Move away from coastal waters“.
The newspaper reported that tsunami warning sirens were activated along a stretch of coastline, including at Bonny Dune in Santa Cruz County.
The first waves were expected to hit the San Francisco area around 12:10 p.m. (20:10 GMT).
"Based on preliminary earthquake parameters ... hazardous tsunamis are possible for coasts located within a 300 km radius of the earthquake epicenter,” said a warning issued by the National Weather Service Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu.