Southern Oregon coast rocked by 6.0 magnitude earthquake

BANDON, Oregon: An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 struck the southern coast of Oregon this week, but no tsunami was expected, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

More than 75 people reported light tremors from the earthquake, whose epicenter was about 170 miles from the small city of Bandon, Oregon. The quake had an initial depth of 6.2 miles, and no damage was reported.

Washington state emergency management officials noted on social media that, although a 6.0-magnitude earthquake near the Cascadia Subduction Zone may seem alarming, this one occurred in the Blanco Fracture Zone, an area where earthquakes are relatively frequent.

The Cascadia Subduction Zone is a 600-mile-long fault just offshore, stretching from Northern California to British Columbia. Tectonic stress has been building in this region for over 300 years, and seismologists warn it could rupture at any time, potentially triggering a massive earthquake and tsunami.