6.4 magnitude earthquake strikes off California coast, felt in Los Angeles
A large earthquake has hit the California coast, the U.S. Geological Survey says.
The magnitude 6.4 quake struck near the city of Ridgecrest, some 320 km northeast of Los Angeles, Thursday. It hit at 10:33 a.m. PT.
The USGS said the quake, initially reported as a magnitude 6.6, was very shallow - only 5.4 miles (8.7 km) - which would have amplified its effect.
People from the desert to the Pacific coast in Southern California reported feeling it.
L.A. Fire Department is urging people not to call 911 unless there are injuries or other dangerous situations.
#earthquake We are aware of the significant earthquake that just occurred in SoCal PLEASE do NOT call 9-1-1 unless there are injuries or other dangerous questions Please do not call for questions
— LAFD (@LAFD) July 4, 2019
It’s unclear whether anyone has been injured, or whether damage was caused.
The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Centre tweeted that a tsunami is not expected to follow the quake.
Tsunami Info Stmt: M6.5 055mi NW Barstow, California 1034PDT Jul 4: Tsunami NOT expected; CA,OR,WA,BC,and AK
#NTWC— NWS Tsunami Alerts (@NWS_NTWC) July 4, 2019
The Associated Press reported that this was the strongest earthquake the region has seen in 20 years.
The last time Southern California felt an earthquake of this strength was on Oct. 16 1999, with a magnitude of 7.1.
On social media, videos of chandeliers shaking and waves forming in backyard pools indicated the intensity of this particular quake.
❗️NEW VIDEOS ❗️@USGS reported that 6.4 magnitude #earthquake rocked Ridgecrest, California at 10:33am Pacific Time. The earthquake was also felt in Los Angeles, #California.#CAwx pic.twitter.com/qHpLlP6HXB
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) July 4, 2019
@cnnbrk @CNN y’all wanted videos of the earthquake. My boyfriend took this inside his apartment on the 2nd floor in Ridgecrest. Pets are all okay, we’re good. Check on your neighbors! pic.twitter.com/XxNxNlHLpg
— Ashlee 💕 (@smash_b5) July 4, 2019
My dads liquor store in Ridgecrest (11 miles from the earthquake) 🥴 pic.twitter.com/4RC0mY3eha
— Zomo (@zomo_abd) July 4, 2019
It’s not immediately clear if anyone was injured. But officials in the area did respond to two dozen fire incidents as a result of today’s quake.
California is located on the Ring of Fire, which is a basin in the Pacific Ocean that’s prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
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