Magnitude 5.3 earthquake rumbles off Oregon coast

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck off the Oregon coast Wednesday morning, officials said.

At 8 a.m., the earthquake shook about 175 miles west of Reedsport, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake was likely too far offshore for any shaking to be felt on land.

The temblor occurred at a depth of nearly 9 miles in what is known as the Blanco Fracture Zone, an area of frequent seismic activity.

After powerful earthquakes rattle California, Oregon’s early warning system still waits for funding

Once fully operational, the system could give residents seconds, or even minutes, of warning before the shaking starts.

Such quakes, as with previous swarms in the same area, are not indicative that a larger shaker is imminent on the nearby Cascadia Subduction Zone. But they do serve as a reminder that the Pacific Northwest could be hit by a major earthquake at any time.

Earthquake preparedness: What to do - wherever you are - when the earth starts shaking

The Big One is, someday, going to hit Portland. But even if an earthquake is just a Sort-of Big One, do you know what to do when it starts?

-- Kale Williams

kwilliams@oregonian.com

503-294-4048

@sfkale

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