The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 3.0 Earthquake at a depth of 6.4 km, roughly 7 km to the northwest of the town of Laytonville in Mendocino County, California, slightly before 6.30 pm local time on Friday 25 October 2013 (slightly before 1.30 am on Saturday 26 October GMT). This is not a large quake, and there are no reports of any damage or injuries, though it was felt as far away as Eureka, approximately 130 km to the northwest of the epicenter.
The approximate location of the 25 October 2013 Mendocino County Earthquake. Google Maps.
California is extremely prone to Earthquakes due to the presence of the San Andreas Fault, a tectonic plate margin that effectively bisects the state. The west of California, including Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, is located on the Pacific Plate, and is moving to the northwest. The east of California, including Fresno and Bakersfield is on the North American Plate, and is moving to the southeast. The plates do not move smoothly past one-another, but constantly stick together then break apart as the pressure builds up. This has led to a network of smaller faults that criss-cross the state, so that Earthquakes can effectively occur anywhere.
Witness accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events and the underlying structures that cause them. If you felt this quake (or if you were in the area but did not, which is also useful information) then you can report it to the United States Geological Survey here.
See also Magnitude 2.6 Earthquake in northeast Sonoma County, California, Magnitude 2.5 Earthquake in northwest San Benito County, California, Magnitude 2.8 Earthquake in San Benito County, California, Magnitude 4.5 Earthquake off the coast of northern California and Magnitude 3.4 Earthquake in northern California.
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