Tens of thousands without power after California earthquake

RIO DELL, Calif. (AP) — Tens of thousands remain without power after a powerful earthquake rocked a rural stretch of the Northern California coast. Twelve injuries have been reported from the magnitude 6.4 earthquake that hit early Tuesday (Dec. 20, 2022) near Ferndale. Pacific Gas & Electric has restored power to about 40,000 customers. Ferndale is a small community some 200 miles northwest of San Francisco and close to the Pacific coast. Officials say there was some damage to buildings and infrastructure, but the scale of damage is minimal compared to the strength of the quake. The region is part of California’s lightly populated far north coast known for its redwood forests. Authorities say two deaths during or just after the quake were due to medical emergencies.