6.0-magnitude earthquake critically injures 3 people in Napa, California
At least 87 people sent to hospital as region's strongest tremblor in 25 years rocks Napa
A large earthquake caused significant damage and left three people critically injured in California's northern Bay Area early yesterday, igniting fires, sending at least 87 people to a hospital, knocking out power to tens of thousands and sending residents running out of their homes in the darkness.
Two adults and one child have critical injuries and Queen of the Valley hospital has treated 87 people, the city of Napa in California wine country said.
Most patients have cuts, bumps, bruises, said Vanessa DeGier, spokeswoman for the hospital in Napa. She said the facility had treated a hip fracture and heart attack, but it's unclear if it was related to the 6.0-magnitude earthquake. The hospital has set up a triage tent and many people were still coming in, DeGier said.
The quake caused six significant fires, including at a mobile home part, Napa Division Fire Chief Darren Drake said. Four mobile homes were destroyed and two others damaged, the city said. Several other smaller fires were reported and firefighting efforts were complicated by broken water mains.
The earthquake struck just before 3.30 am about 10 kilometres southwest of Napa, said Leslie Gordon of the US Geological Survey said.