Residents of northern California were startled Sunday morning by a strong quake that is now being described as the strongest earthquake since the 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta quake in the Bay Area in 1989.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake registered a magnitude of 6.0, although USGS sources says it could be later revised to 6.1.

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The epicenter was about six miles south southwest of Napa - just north of San Francisco - and 51 miles west southwest of Sacramento. The quake struck at 3:20 a.m. local time, and although there is no report of severe injuries, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company said it knocked power out of an estimated 60,000 customers. 

Power outages were reported in North Bay area of San Francisco as well as Sonoma and Napa counties. 

Immediately after the tremor, pictures and videos of the shaking and the initial damage started popping up all over the internet.Local fire departments immediately went into emergency mode, while California Highway Patrol immediately went about checking crossings and bridges, including the Golden Gate, for possible structural damage.

Residents in the affected area described a long, rolling shaking when the quake hit while most people were in bed. In Vallejo, California, a big church suffered extensive and was reported to have lost its bell tower, while big cracks on roads were reported in Napa and nearby areas. 

Past 5:30 a.m., firefighters were reportedly fighting a big blaze in a residential area of Napa, and local fire departments have requested help from nearby cities while assessing damage in most areas where it was still dark when firetrucks ventured out.

In a tweet at about 6:03 a.m. local time, the USGS said "at this time there's no exact determination of the causative fault, though the Browns Valley section of the West Napa fault is suspected."

China Topix. will continue to post updates as soon as available. 

Tagscalifornia, San Francisco, USGS