7.1 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Up Southern California
A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Southern California Friday night, centered 11 miles from Ridgecrest — the same area where a strong quake hit Thursday.
Prelim M7.1 Earthquake 35.767, -117.605 Jul-06 03:19 UTC, updates https://t.co/uVJBfBodUN
— USGS Big Quakes (@USGSBigQuakes) July 6, 2019
Authorities reported multiple fires, minor injuries, building collapses and gas leaks in Ridgecrest — about 150 miles northeast of Los Angeles — after Friday’s quake.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has requested a presidential emergency declaration from Donald Trump for federal assistance “to further support emergency response and recovery in impacted communities,” he said in a statement.
In response to another large earthquake in Southern California tonight, I have activated the @Cal_OES state operation center to its highest level. The state is coordinating mutual aid to local first responders.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 6, 2019
Just spoke with Ridgecrest Mayor Peggy Breeden. The support of all Californians are with the people of her community and the surrounding areas.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 6, 2019
Thousands of residents in Ridgecrest and the nearby Mojave town of Trona were without power, according to Southern California Edison. Rock slides and cracks in the earth closed down at least one highway. The airport in Ontario, California, was evacuated and closed down, a local ABC affiliate reported.
Scientists said Friday’s stronger quake indicated the fault triggering the earthquakes was growing ― and that there was a 1 in 20 chance of it being followed “by something even bigger.” The Los Angeles Police Department urged people to “talk to your loved ones” and “have a plan.”
1 in 20 chance of something bigger? Don’t take this lightly. Be prepared. Talk to your loved ones. Have a plan. https://t.co/OVMRKQYH84
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) July 6, 2019
Two magnitude 5.5 aftershocks hit within an hour of the main quake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The 7.1 quake that struck at 8:19 p.m. Pacific Time was 10 times stronger than the 6.4 magnitude quake that rattled the same area Thursday. That was the largest quake in two decades in the region, and it shook up residents from Long Beach in California to Las Vegas. No injuries were reported following that quake.
The latest temblor occurred along the same fault, but a bit farther from Los Angeles.
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Major damage is expected here in Ridgecrest, California after the earthquake. Huge fire at a mobile home park captured by WCK’s @cheftkilcoyne — Our team is safe and we will be working to support evacuees. pic.twitter.com/djSogOLyxA
— World Central Kitchen (@WCKitchen) July 6, 2019
Twitter users Friday reported shaking from San Diego to Los Angeles, Fresno, Las Vegas and Phoenix. Some in the LA area reported “rolling” ground, swaying cranes and water sloshing from pools.
“It just started getting stronger and stronger, and I looked into my house and the lamp started to sway. I could see power lines swaying,” Andrew Lippman, from suburban South Pasadena, told The Associated Press. “This one seemed 45 (seconds). I’m still straightening pictures.”
There were no immediate reports of injuries or significant building damage in the Los Angeles area. The quake was felt as far north as San Jose and as far south as parts of Mexico, according to the USGS.
An NBA Summer League game between the New York Knicks and the New Orleans Pelicans in Las Vegas was postponed indefinitely.
What it looked like the moment an earthquake hit during the game.
Knicks-Pelicans is still suspended. pic.twitter.com/v1LzdRKtea— ESPN (@espn) July 6, 2019
Knicks and Pelicans players are headed back to the locker rooms.
The #NBASummer League game was suspended after an earthquake. pic.twitter.com/rKW5Fj0bTZ— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 6, 2019
Disneyland halted rides.
Everyone evacuating from the Millenium Falcon. Bizarre to be in Battu for the aftershock #disney #disneyland #earthquake pic.twitter.com/ArOhYVnf14
— Kyle Reilly (@kylereilly) July 6, 2019
As did the Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park in Santa Clarita:
The safety of our guests and employees is our top priority and as a precautionary measure, we are conducting an extensive visual, structural, and operational safety checks on all of the rides before re-opening.
— Six Flags MM (@SFMagicMountain) July 6, 2019
At Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ game against the San Diego Padres was interrupted.
#EarthquakeLA pic.twitter.com/yDOOEYSk4j
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 6, 2019
The earthquake in LA at Dodger Stadium...
The players did not feel it. pic.twitter.com/YsP2UdrA0N— Matthew Reichbach (@fbihop) July 6, 2019
This is what ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE looks like at Dodger Stadium in LA. Top deck runs. Bottom deck watches. Players keep playing. Now we will #walkoff with a shake. #earthquakes #EarthquakeLA #DodgerStadium @Dodgers pic.twitter.com/aGGOfl7LOc
— Aaron Wolf (@TheAaronWolf) July 6, 2019
After Thursday’s shaker, scientists warned it could lead to a bigger quake.
That earthquake — now considered a foreshock — triggered some 1,400 aftershocks.
According to the USGS, the 7.1/6.9 SoCal earthquake this evening it is now considered the actual earthquake. What happened on July 4th is now considered to be a foreshock. They describe it as an ongoing earthquake sequence. If a stronger one occurs, that becomes the earthquake.
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) July 6, 2019
“The fault is growing,” retired USGS seismologist Lucy Jones told The Los Angeles Times on Friday. “This is an earthquake sequence. It will be ongoing. It is clearly a very energetic sequence, so there’s no reason to think we can’t have more large earthquakes.”
Friday’s quake was larger in magnitude than the destructive 1994 Northridge quake, which measured 6.7 magnitude. But that shaker occurred in an urban area, while this quake occurred some 150 miles from LA.
Dozens of videos and photos documenting the latest quake have been shared on Twitter:
#EarthquakeLA Another #earthquake in SoCal. Check out the pool water! Didn’t feel the first quake, but today, I felt it! #aftershock #rocksteady pic.twitter.com/k9cxrk3WSW
— Lindsey Pallares (@lindseylares) July 6, 2019
Photos from @cbsla viewer who took these along Highway 178 - not too far from Ridgecrest pic.twitter.com/SYAw7ibi6p
— Tara Finestone (@tarawallis) July 6, 2019
The moment as a powerful magnitude 6.9/7.1 #earthquake hit #Ridgecrest, California. We were inside a restaurant as the entire building started shaking. Many people panicked as they tried to get to safety. #earthquake #caquake @foxnews #foxnews pic.twitter.com/0ma6To3rq7
— Jeff Paul (@Jeff_Paul) July 6, 2019
The ceiling was shaking at #wsop event at the Rio! #EarthquakeLA pic.twitter.com/XQVq1suMJl
— ZaZa Maree 👑 (@ZaZaMaree) July 6, 2019
Okay THAT was for real a big one. #EarthquakeLA pic.twitter.com/oXNJziF60m
— Sophia Gad-Nasr 🏳️🌈 (@Astropartigirl) July 6, 2019
#earthquake #ANOTHER #laearthquake #ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE pic.twitter.com/BUNGXu0CCG
— 𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚊𝚝 (@50Lux14) July 6, 2019
We’re having dinner at the highest building in the Coachella valley... #EarthquakeLA #Aftershock pic.twitter.com/VDvTQ9XmcK
— mcgregor (@jeffreymcgregor) July 6, 2019
"It's OK. Just hold on, hold on!" Video posted by Instagram user feesthstix shows the moment a 7.1 #earthquake struck near #Ridgecrest. https://t.co/r14kapuKbW pic.twitter.com/WFuExZvoXD
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) July 6, 2019
This record shows terrifying moment 7.1 magnitude earthquake hits #Ridgecrest, California. In the video, you can hear glass shattering, clothing racks rattling, and dozens of items falling to the ground #EarthquakeLA pic.twitter.com/s8ajXNC4jq
— S.C (@cns6720) July 6, 2019
#EARTHQUAKE Here we go again! Feeling it good here in Pasadena right now. #abc7eyewitness @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/Jn7mbKVJ0r
— Marc Cota-Robles (@abc7marccr) July 6, 2019
Long slow roller in Huntington Beach. Lamps swaying, grandfather clock weights banging. Over a minute
— Kirk J. Nason 🌎 🚗🔌🔋 (@KirkNason) July 6, 2019
Conditions through SR178 in the Canyon pic.twitter.com/l3rnYGhutJ
— CHP Bakersfield (@BakersfieldChp) July 6, 2019
It was a nerve wrecking experience when a magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Ridgecrest. Mothers and fathers were running out of their apartments carrying little infants. I have never experienced such shaking in my life. @latimes @latimesphotos @LANow pic.twitter.com/ils02k6WmB
— Irfan Khan عرفان (@latfoto) July 6, 2019
Felt about 20 seconds in Vegas! Bigger than yesterday!
— Joshua Bond (@Joshua_BondLV) July 6, 2019
Felt in Woodland Hills pic.twitter.com/suqd0P05VR
— TerraSculpture (@terrasculpture) July 6, 2019
That was felt firmly in Fresno. Wow!
— 🇺🇸🌊 Jerry-Rigged 🌊🇺🇸 (@JerryBeSmoove) July 6, 2019
I was downtown and cranes were swaying pic.twitter.com/lwg1IAlQSF
— WingedSupernova ✈ AX 2019 (@WingedSupernova) July 6, 2019
Weird, long, slushy roll in Los Angeles
— ((( bpod ))) (@bpod) July 6, 2019
In Bakersfield pic.twitter.com/ARlMS5gO9V
— Tyler (@HSG12345678) July 6, 2019
Strong rolling and shaking in West Hollywood - no apparent damage - power wires were swaying moderate to heavy - our whole building was rolling
— Ethan Bearman (@EthanBearman) July 6, 2019
At Loma Linda California pic.twitter.com/4qwgYF9kKA
— Nardesh (@CaptNardesh) July 6, 2019
Total #Earthquake map for the #Ridgecrest and China Lake area. pic.twitter.com/IbxUL0yGBo
— Bern Notice 🔥 (@BDP473) July 6, 2019
This article has been updated throughout with more details from the region.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.