A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck late Sunday off the coast of northern California, the US Geological Survey reported.

A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck late Sunday off the coast of northern California, the US Geological Survey reported.

The quake struck at 0518 GMT with an epicenter located 77 kilometers (48 miles) west-northwest of the town of Ferndale and at a depth of seven kilometers (4.3 miles), said the USGS, which monitors earthquakes worldwide.