Southern California Wakes Up to Aftershock Morning After Biggest Earthquake in 20 Years

Southern Californians woke up Friday to a magnitude 5.4 earthquake, one of hundreds of aftershocks that followed the largest earthquake to hit the area in years.

The latest aftershock hit at about 4 a.m. local time, according to the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. It was felt as far away as Los Angeles (where it was strong enough to wake some people up), Long Beach, Laguna Hills, San Bernardino, Fresno, and Las Vegas, according to the Los Angeles Times.

It comes less than a day after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck southwest of the Searles Valley, and about 93 miles northeast of the San Andreas Fault, according to the USGS, shocking residents in Southern California.

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The July 4 earthquake was caused by a shallow strike slip faulting of the crust of the North America plate, and was the largest earthquakes to hit the region in years. In the past 40 years, the area has seen eight other magnitude 5 or higher earthquakes within about 30 miles of this one, according to the USGS.

Thursday’s earthquake was also the largest to hit Southern California since 1999, when a 7.1 earthquake shook the ground in the Mojave desert, according to CNN.

The shaking on Thursday caused broken water mains, down power lines, and some rock slides, and forced Disneyland to temporarily shut rides.

Celebrities also took to Twitter following the quake, some using humor and reflecting on the shaking.

“The fact that I experienced that longass earthquake while on the toilet at the gym...and immediately blamed the celery juice, is about right. Lordt,” Gabrielle Union wrote, channeling some humor to offset what must have been a terrifying situation.

Kathy Griffin joked on Twitter as well, writing: “I’m shook. Literally. #earthquake.”

Ava DuVernay was a little more reflective, writing: “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.”

And for his part, The Daily Show host Trevor Noah had a simple observation: “That earthquake was not fun…”

During Friday’s aftershock, there were no immediate reports of deaths or serious injuries, according to the LA Times.