A M6.4 earthquake rattled parts of Southern California and Nevada on July 4, 2019. This is the strongest earthquake to hit Southern California in nearly 20 years.
The shallow quake – reported by more than 40,000 people on the USGS website – occurred about 7 miles outside Searless Valley at a depth of 6.7 miles (10.7km) and was felt from Las Vegas to Orange County.
Just hours after the M6.2 earthquake located at the northern most tip of the Cascadia Subduction zone, now a M6.4 earthquake just hit Southern California!
#Earthquake Detection: The @PNSN1 Gold Mtn. seismometer near Bremerton is very sensitive. It detected last night’s M6.2 off the B.C. coast and this morning’s M6.4 in Southern California. pic.twitter.com/ENYMLYzw0f
— Morgan Palmer (@MorganKIRO7) July 4, 2019
And that is scary!
M6.4 #earthquake in #California about an hour ago with numerous aftershocks since. #californiaearthquake pic.twitter.com/9vzN2xymLb
— Ken Weathers ⚡️? (@lucky13wxman) July 4, 2019
A great live Facebook video:
The quake was reported by more than 40,000 people on the USGS homepage, thus showing the power of this quake and also the population density in this area of Southern California.
Fault details for the area around the M6.4 California earthquake from Stevens et al. (2013). Approximate location of quake given by star. Little Lake fault is currently mentioned as likely source but other faults appear as (maybe more likely?) candidates. pic.twitter.com/zkFWyTk4X8
— Jascha Polet (@CPPGeophysics) July 4, 2019
At least 85 aftershocks of 2.5 or greater were recorded after the earthquake. The largest of them reached magnitude 4.6.
My dads liquor store in Ridgecrest (11 miles from the earthquake) ? pic.twitter.com/4RC0mY3eha
— Zomo (@zomo_abd) July 4, 2019
According to Lucy Jones of the USGS, there is a 50% chance of another large quake in the next week.
#July4th: The New Normal?
— Julio_Vaisman (@VaismanJulio) July 4, 2019
?? #USA: Rare Cluster Of #Earthquakes Attacks #California
More Than 40 Recorded Aftershocks After The Initial M6.4 #Earthquake
While M6.2 Hit ?? #Canada#землетрясение#Earthquake#Terremoto#Seísmo#Séisme#Sismo#Sisma#地震pic.twitter.com/5iGGyg8r0J
However, there were no immediate reports of injuries or large damage from the quakes.
WATCH: Mahogany Rose, a Northridge, California, resident, shared video of the M6.4 earthquake in her neighborhood: rolling waves in her pool.
— #NBC7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) July 4, 2019
Seismologists say aftershocks from the earthquake are ongoing, and we should be expecting more aftershocks >>> https://t.co/Um1lQD0zMc pic.twitter.com/KN9CrJ13z2
However, officials report “minor cracks (in buildings); broken water mains; power lines down; rock slides on certain roads” in northwestern communities in the San Bernardino County.
Boulders fell down hillsides, shattering the asphalt and blocking mountain roads.
Highway 178 has a 4-inch crack, said San Bernardino County Fire spokesman Jeremy Kern. All highways in San Bernardino County remain open. The area’s high tension power lines are all intact.
There are also reports that Ridgecrest Regional Hospital was being evacuated:
#EarthquakeResponse Update. We can confirm evacuations are underway @ Ridgecrest Regional Hospital. #kerncountyfiredepartment
— Kern County Fire (@kerncountyfire) July 4, 2019
The Los Angeles Fire Department asked resident not to call 911 over the earthquake but only to report injuries or damage. Fire officials said they were in earthquake mode as a result of the tremblors.
#BREAKING: Following M6.4 #earthquake in SoCal, a tsunami is not expected, NWS says, per @NBCNews. https://t.co/zvkhFr2SvM
— #NBC7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) July 4, 2019
“All 106 fire stations are out conducting a strategic survey of their districts to determine if any damage exists,” the fire department said in an alert. “Once this process is complete, an overall assessment of the impact in the City of Los Angeles will be compiled by Headquarters.”
The Los Angeles Police Department said it had not received any reports of large damage or calls for help.
Los Angeles International Airport said operations are normal as crews inspected runways and terminals.
An interesting (conjugate?) pattern of aftershocks is starting to emerge after the M6.4 California earthquake (map generated at https://t.co/Z4bxE8KE1b pic.twitter.com/uR8ffkZM0l
— Jascha Polet (@CPPGeophysics) July 4, 2019
The San Bernardino County Fire Department said it was conducting an assessment as well.
The Cascadia subduction zone and the fault lines related to it are currently on fire. When is it going to unlash the Big One is just a question of time!
