Biggest quake in decades rocks California: ‘Completely freaking out’
A 6.4 magnitude earthquake has hit Southern California, the largest temblor to hit the region in decades with rumblings felt in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
The most powerful earthquake to strike southern California in decades has rattled the region with buildings rocking back and forth in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Nevada.
The quake — which measured a 6.4 magnitude on the Richter scale — struck near the town of Ridgecrest, California, about 240 kilometres northeast of Los Angeles. It was very shallow — about 10.7km — which would have amplified its effect, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
There have been reports of damaged buildings, power lines down, broken water mains, rock slides and fires in some areas. One major highway sustained a four inch crack in San Bernardino County, according to local fire department spokesman Jeremy Kern.
It was not immediately clear whether anyone was injured in the quake, which hit just after 10.30am Thursday, local time.
The quake was the largest in Southern California since the 7.1 Hector Mine quake struck the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base and killed dozens of people in 1994.
A resident of Trona, south of Ridgecrest, said the earthquake rattled her home.
“We were just panicked trying to get out of the house because everything was just falling out of the cabinets, off the shelves, off the walls, pictures ... they were flying like missiles off the shelves,” April Rodriguez told CNN.
Mark Leach, an engineer who lives in LA, was in his garage about to drive to a July 4 barbecue in Los Angeles when the shaking started. He told the LA Times that it “felt like it went on for 30 seconds”.
“About halfway through it I dashed out into the road completely freaking out,” he said. “You can see some cracking in the seams of the drywall and stuff was knocked off the shelves — books and CDs and stuff.”
Ridgecrest Mayor Peggy Breeden said authorities were in the process of assessing the town’s regional hospital which was reportedly experiencing problems.
“It’s a little crazy here right now,” she said before quickly ending a phone call to local media.
Ms Breeden later told MSNBC: “We are used to earthquakes but we’re not used to this significance”.
This is my friends chandelier after the earthquake ð #earthquake #ridgecrestearthquake pic.twitter.com/UqjHupfvLA
— Yunuen Valencia (@_yv0214) July 4, 2019
USGS has updated the Magnitude of the earthquake to a 6.4 located 60 miles NW of Barstow, CA. Lots of people around the region felt it, but so far no significant damage reports. Many aftershocks still occurring near the epicenter. #nvwx #azwx #cawx
— NWS Las Vegas (@NWSVegas) July 4, 2019
#Earthquake (Update): #SBCoFD cont rapid survey of the NW communities of our county. Mult buildings with minor cracks; broken water mains; power lines down; rock slides on certain roads. No injuries/fires. Addl engine companies and #USAR HeavyRescue 305 moving to the area. ^eas
— SB County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) July 4, 2019
In Lancaster, one Twitter user reported people fleeing a movie theatre.
“Felt like we were on a turntable,” user Rudio87 wrote.
Filmmaker Ava DuVernay tweeted, “Been living in Los Angeles all my life. That was the longest earthquake I’ve ever experienced. Not jerky. Smooth and rolling. But it was loooong. It was so long I thought for the first time ever “Is this the big one?” Damn. Respect Mother Nature. She’s the boss.”
From my friends Ring camera.#Earthquake #Ridgecrest @KTLA @ABC7 @CBSLA @KCBSKCALDesk
— kimmy S (@kimmyS56779600) July 4, 2019
Never felt this before!! Very strong pic.twitter.com/MosEagF7jc
Been fully briefed on earthquake in Southern California. All seems to be very much under control!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2019
The epicentre was located in a remote desert area in the Seares Valley, Southern California, according to USGS. But it was “widely felt”, according to USGS geophysicist Paul Caruso.
“But we don’t expect any significant damage,” he said.
My dads liquor store in Ridgecrest (11 miles from the earthquake) 𥴠pic.twitter.com/4RC0mY3eha
— Zomo (@zomo_abd) July 4, 2019
What happens to a pool when an #earthquake hits. pic.twitter.com/UU1YEvOcuq
— Daniel Beyer (@danbeyeronfox) July 4, 2019
The National Weather Service tweeted that the earthquake was also felt in Las Vegas and said “so far (there are) no significant damage reports”.
Rumblings were also detected south of the border in Mexico, where buildings were evacuated in the towns of Tijuana and Mexicali, according to Baja state officials.
The USGS reports more than 20 aftershocks have hit following the initial quake.
Been living in Los Angeles all my life. That was the longest earthquake Iâve ever experienced. Not jerky. Smooth and rolling. But it was loooong. It was so long I thought for the first time ever âIs this the big one?â Damn. Respect Mother Nature. Sheâs the boss.
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) July 4, 2019
Caltech seismologist Lucy Jones, California’s foremost earthquake expert, told reporters in Pasadena to anticipate more shaking as Americans celebrate the Fourth of July.
“We should be expecting lots of aftershocks,” Jones said.
Felt #earthquake (#sismo) M4.2 strikes 18 km NE of #Ridgecrest (#California) 6 min ago. Please report to: https://t.co/B85JrgUeeN pic.twitter.com/SYSivdzRYF
— EMSC (@LastQuake) July 4, 2019
Tsunami Info Stmt: M6.5 055mi NW Barstow, California 1034PDT Jul 4: Tsunami NOT expected; CA,OR,WA,BC,and AK
— NWS Tsunami Alerts (@NWS_NTWC) July 4, 2019
#NTWC
She estimated that there was a “greater than 50-50” chance of an earthquake of magnitude 5.5 or more Thursday afternoon.
The Kern County Fire Department was responding to “nearly 2 dozen incidents ranging from medical assistance to structure fires in and around the city of Ridgecrest,” according to the department’s Twitter account.