6.4 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Kern County; Central Valley Residents Report Feeling It
LOS ANGELES (CBS13) - People are reporting feeling an earthquake all over Southern California - and even up to the southern Central Valley - on Fourth of July.
According to the US Geological Survey, a 6.4 magnitude quake struck near Searles Valley in the Mojave Desert just after 10:30 a.m. The preliminary magnitude was 6.6, but it was since downgraded.
Prelim M6.6 Earthquake Southern California Jul-04 17:33 UTC, updates https://t.co/U0QmdQsbaW
— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) July 4, 2019
Residents all over Southern California and even all the way to Las Vegas reported feeling some shaking.
People all the way up to the Modesto area also reported feeling the earthquake.
The initial 6.4 magnitude earthquake was quickly followed by smaller aftershocks, the largest being a 4.7 magnitude, according to the USGS earthquake map website. More than 30 aftershocks have been recorded, seismologists say.
Kern and San Bernardino county first responders say they're responding to a multitude of incidents and surveilling damage to several roads and buildings after the earthquake. Small vegetation fires, gas leaks and cracks on some roads have been reported.
Some injuries have been reported and several patients had to be evacuated from Ridgecrest Regional Hospital as a precaution, officials said.
Seismologists say Thursday's earthquake was the strongest to hit Southern California in 20 years.