Injuries top 120, three critical in Napa quake

About 120 people were treated at Queen of the Valley Medical Center following a 6.0-magnitude earthquake near American Canyon early this morning, hospital officials said.

Six people were injured critically as a result of the quake that struck at 3:20 a.m., according to hospital president Walt Mickens. One child was airlifted to another hospital after being injured when pieces of a fireplace fell.

Other serious injuries involve broken bones and other trauma, Mickens said. The rest of the injuries include “mostly lacerations, bumps and bruises” and those patients have been treated and released, he said.

The six critically injured people include at least one child, according to the City of Napa.

Aftershocks rattled the county this morning, following the original 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck about three miles northwest of American Canyon.

The aftershocks have ranged in size from 2.5 to 3.6 magnitude, according to the Geological Survey. Officials with the USGS said this morning’s earthquake is the largest to hit the Bay Area since the Loma Prieta Earthquake almost 25 years ago.

Between 30 and 70 small aftershocks could hit the area during the next week, according to the Geological Survey. California Gov. Edmund Brown Jr. said in a statement this morning the impact of the earthquake is being felt throughout the region:

“My Office of Emergency Services has been on full activation since early this morning and is working close with state and local emergency managers, first responders and transportation officials to respond to impacts to residents and critical infrastructure. … These safety officials are doing all they can to help residents and those living in affected areas should follow their guidance and instruction.”

Napa city officials also provided an update this afternoon on damage to the local infrastructure from the quake. Sixty-one water mains broke as a result of the earthquake, although all were smaller distribution lines rather than the larger transmission lines, said Jacques LaRochelle, the director of Napa’s Public Works Department.

LaRochelle said about 20 of the water main breaks have been isolated and that it could take crews up to a week to make repairs and restore water service to all customers. He said water stations will be provided for residents in the meantime. LaRochelle said the city’s “roads aren’t too bad. We have a few locations with buckling streets, but nothing that’s serious enough to cause us to close the road.”

Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, also attended the news conference and detailed some of the damage to Napa’s wineries, one of the city’s main tourist industries:

“Some wineries have been hit pretty hard, with barrels knocked off the rack and glassware shattering.”

The congressman said major damage has also been reported around Vallejo and Mare Island, including at a U.S. Forest Service building. Thompson said federal agencies have conducted an aerial survey of the region but do not yet know exactly how much damage was wrought by the quake.

Napa City Manager Mike Parness said 15 or 16 buildings have been red-tagged, meaning occupancy won’t be allowed until repairs are made.

Three of those buildings are at 816-820 Brown St., which are unreinforced masonry buildings that had not been brought up to current seismic codes, Parness said. Several other buildings have been yellow-tagged, allowing limited access, he said.

There has been major damage to buildings in Napa, and firefighters are battling at least one blaze that damaged several mobile homes.

The popular Napa Valley Wine Train has cancelled operations for today, in order to inspect their trains. An official for the train company says they expect to resume operations tomorrow.

The quake struck around 3:20 a.m. about three miles northwest of American Canyon, and was originally reported to have been magnitude 6.0.

The injured patients are being treated at Queen of the Valley Hospital and an update on their conditions was not immediately available. Napa city officials said the damaged buildings include the Napa County Courthouse, Goodman Library and Sam Kee Library.

There were approximately 50 gas line breaks and 30 water main breaks reported following the earthquake, causing some areas to have low or no water service. The American Red Cross has set up an evacuation center at the Napa High School gymnasium at 2475 Jefferson St.

Napa Valley Unified School District schools will all be closed Monday following the 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck near American Canyon.

City officials announced Sunday afternoon that all NVUSD schools will be closed, as well as Justin Siena Catholic High School. There are 19 elementary schools, five middle schools and five high schools in the district.

Though all Napa Valley Unified schools will be closed Monday, authorities report that Sonoma State University will be open. University officials report the earthquake did not damage the university campus.

The earthquake epicenter in American Canyon in Napa County is approximately 35 miles from the campus.