California’s wine country was rocked by the region’s strongest earthquake in 25 years early Sunday, injuring more than 120 people, damaging numerous businesses and jolting residents awake.
Nearly 70 aftershocks were recorded following the magnitude-6.0 temblor, the largest to hit Northern Californaa Area since the 6.9 Loma Prieta quake in 1989.
At least six people were listed in critical condition Sunday, including two adults and a child who were struck by glass and falling debris.
But one of the biggest casualties was the wine.
Twitter was filled with pictures of broken wine bottles, which fell from store shelves and wine closets.
“We almost got thrown off our bed,” Napa winemaker Steve Matthiasson said, noting that his and wife Jill’s restored 1905 farmhouse was significantly damaged. “Our house is six inches off the foundation. We’re trying to get water back. From our house you could see the flames. A very apocalyptic morning.”
Matthiasson’s wine stock was also damaged. Barrels of his reds, stored at Silenus Vintners near his house just north of Napa, were toppled and strewn about the winery.
He had yet to assess the full damage, but some bungs, or stoppers, had come out.
“Silenus is an ungodly mess,” Matthiasson told the San Francisco Chronicle. “I’m sure we lost some wine, but it’s not a wipeout.”
Napa resident Emily Massimi was awakened by the quake, centered about nine miles south of the city.
“I’ve got a lot of broken wine, being here in Napa,” she told CNN. “We tend to collect wine, so I have wine all over my kitchen, and glass, and pictures off the wall and books off of bookshelves.”
At Silver Oak Winery, owner David Duncan spent the morning cleaning up broken bottles, including some worth hundreds of dollars from his private collection.
“Those bottles were very unique,” he said. “It’s a tragedy, but it’s nothing we can’t overcome.”
The total toll to the $13 billion dollar Napa wine industry won’t be known for days.
California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency after the quake ignited fires and knocked out power to tens of thousands of homes.
At least 30 water-main breaks and leaks were reported. The quake triggered six major fires, including some that completely burned down several mobile homes.
“There’s collapses, fires,” said Napa Fire Capt. Doug Bridewell, standing in front of pieces of masonry that fell off a turn-of-the-century office building. “That’s the worst shaking I’ve ever been in.”
Highway Patrol and the California Department of Transportation were checking roadways for damage.
There appeared to be no damage to major bridges in the Bay Area, authorities said.
Post Wire Services