POINT ARENA 3.1 quake hits Mendocino Coast

A magnitude 3.1 earthquake hit the southern Mendocino Coast near Point Arena on Friday, but authorities reported no immediate damage.

The 3:27 p.m. quake went unnoticed at the Point Arena General Store, manager Eric Kramer said. No one reported feeling the temblor to the U.S. Geological Survey by early evening.

The earthquake's center was located 6 miles southeast of Point Arena, according to preliminary estimates by the USGS. The quake appeared to be near, and possibly on, the San Andreas fault, said USGS seismologist David Oppen-

heimer.

The area generally gets one or two earthquakes a year, Oppenheimer said. Most of those quakes are around magnitude 2.0, he said.

"This was among the larger," he said.

- Glenda Anderson