BREAKING: Magnitude 7.1 earthquake near Ridgecrest
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Authorities say a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that jolted California has caused injuries, sparked fires, shut roads and shaken ball games and theme parks.
However, authorities say there are no deaths or major building damage reported from the quake, which struck at 8:19 p.m. Friday.
It was centered about 150 miles from Los Angeles in the Mojave Desert near the town of Ridgecrest, which was still recovering from a 6.4-magnitude preshock that hit the region on Thursday.
There were reports of trailers burning at a mobile home, and State Route 178 in Kern County was closed by a rockslide and roadway damage.
But Kern County Fire Chief David Witt says it appears no buildings collapsed. He also says there have been a lot of ambulance calls but no reported fatalities.
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KION UPDATE: The USGS has upgraded Friday night’s earthquake near Ridgecrest to a magnitude 7.1.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting a magnitude 6.9 earthquake near Ridgecrest, Friday night.
According to the USGS, their preliminary information has the quake 17km NNE of Ridgecrest, CA, the same area that was hit by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake on Thursday.
The earthquake was originally reported by the USGS as a 7.1 at 8:23 p.m., Friday.
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
This is a developing story.
