Several strong earthquakes strike globally in 1 day. How are they connected?

MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. -- In Northern California, many nerves are still rattled after Wednesday's 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Mendocino County.

It was part of a wild day of seismic activity with six strong quakes shaking different parts of the world within hours of each other.

It left many people wondering: were these earthquakes connected?

We spoke with a seismic expert to get some answers.

Residents in Mendocino County were woken by a violent shake Wednesday morning, jolting communities and causing damage in parts of the region.

The quake, centered near Willits, was strong enough to send items crashing off shelves, creating significant messes inside local businesses -- including grocery stores. Willits Mayor Tom Allman said the situation could have been far worse.

"Yesterday could have been worse. Today is a better day," Allman said.

City officials report no injuries and power has since been restored. However, at least two buildings sustained structural damage, including a Grocery Outlet location. Inspectors are now working to assess safety conditions and help businesses reopen.

RELATED: Residents describe intense 5.6 NorCal quake that caused damage, injuries in Mendocino County

"Our building inspectors are out today, working to see what we can do to help businesses get back to business as soon as possible," Allman said.

The earthquake also rattled the Milo Foundation animal rescue sanctuary, where both animals and staff were caught off guard. The timing added to the stress, as new rescue dogs were scheduled to arrive the same day.

"I think everyone felt it. We were shocked, surprised and, of course, afraid for the animals," said Lynne Tingle, the foundation's founder.

The organization is now calling for additional volunteers and pet adoptions to help support ongoing operations.

The Mendocino County quake struck within hours of several major earthquakes worldwide -- including activity in Japan, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Venezuela -- raising questions about whether the events are connected.

RELATED: Why Bay Area residents received alerts for Mendocino quake despite feeling minimal shaking

Seismologist Dr. Angela Lux of UC Berkeley says it's natural for people to look for patterns, but current science suggests otherwise.

"It makes sense people want to correlate and look for patterns," Lux said.

According to Lux, there is no evidence linking the California quake with those overseas, and the timing is most likely coincidental.

"We started with the earthquake in Redwood Valley. I would say confidently that did not have an effect on the quake in Venezuela," she said.

While earthquakes can sometimes influence nearby seismic activity, the distances between these events are too vast for a direct connection. Experts say the shaking serves as a reminder for Californians to stay prepared for earthquakes at all times.

"Don't go in the doorway or run outside - drop, cover, and hold on. It's the best advice for California," said.