SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — A strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake rocked northern California early yesterday, seriously injuring two people, igniting fires and buckling roads in the scenic Napa valley wine region.

The US Geological Service (USGS) said that the quake was the most powerful to hit the San Francisco Bay area since the 1989 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake.

No deaths were reported but the Napa City Fire Department said two people suffered serious injuries after the quake struck at

3:20 am.

A family home caught fire and two more blazes struck a mobile home park, it said.

Queen of the Valley Medical Centrw in Napa told AFP it had treated some 89 patients for minor injuries such as cuts and bruises and that all were “non-life threatening”.

There were also widespread reports of power outages, damaged buildings and cracked roads.

The quake struck near American Canyon some 40 miles (64 kilometres) north-east of San Francisco, the USGS said.

It roused people from sleep as far away as San Francisco, and was felt as far east as Sacramento and as far south as Santa Cruz.

Dorothy Roberts, Napa city clerk, told AFP multiple reports of structural damage had come in and that brick buildings in particular had been hard-hit.

USGS issued an “orange alert” for possible damage, a rating which means “significant damage is likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.”

The California Highway Patrol closed several off-ramps to highways and at least two roads in Napa Valley because of “significant roadway damage”.

Drivers were cautioned to be careful at an intersection of two state roads in Napa Valley.

And power was still knocked out to nearly 30,000 customers in the area,

home to California’s most celebrated wine producing regions, according to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

USGS expert Jessica Turner told KCBS radio that aftershocks of up to 5.0 are likely in the next week.

Two aftershocks registering 2.6 and 3.6 magnitude had already been recorded.

“Anytime we have an earthquake, whether it’s magnitude 6.0 or smaller, they serve as a good reminder that we do live in earthquake country and need to be prepared,” USGS spokeswoman Susan Garcia told AFP.