RIDGECREST, Calif. — The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting a magnitude 5.5 earthquake shaking the ground near Ridgecrest Wednesday afternoon.
According to the USGS, the tremor happened around 6:32 p.m. just 10 miles south of Searles Valley. USGS is reporting it had a depth of 6.9 kilometers.
Yes, an earthquake. A M5.5 at the very southern end of the 2019 Ridgecrest aftershock zone. This is a large late aftershock - do you remember that I said these are common?
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) June 4, 2020
Reports of several smaller earthquakes, measuring between 2.6 and 2.9 magnitude in the nearby Trona, Calif. area, were recorded after the initial shakeup. Several local businesses reported feeling the quake, but said they had little to no damage.
The earthquake could be felt in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, our sister station KGTV reported.
Caltrans crews responded immediately to inspect bridges and culverts, finding all structures sound with no damage from the quake.
Wednesday's quake coming less than a year after a magnitude 7.1 quake on July 5, 2019, and a magnitude 6.4 foreshock the day before strongly shook the region
Damage from those quakes occurred to facilities on the sprawling Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake as well as in the nearby communities of Trona and Ridgecrest.
