Central California is rocked by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake and more than TEN aftershocks

by


Central California is rocked by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake and more than TEN aftershocks triggering a rock slide just two days after a 4.6 quake in the same area

  • The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at 10.40am and was centered 60 miles (96.5 kilometers) northwest of Ridgecrest in the Owens Valley region 
  • It was felt widely, including some 240 miles (386 kilometers) away in Sacramento
  • Inyo County Sheriff’s Department also shared that a rock slide occurred in the area, soon after the earthquake
  • The Department later said that the rockslide was a result of the earthquake 

By Matthew Wright For Dailymail.com and Associated Press

Published: | Updated:

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 struck in a remote area of central California on Wednesday.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at 10.40am and was centered 60 miles (96.5 kilometers) northwest of Ridgecrest in the Owens Valley region below the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada.

The quake was felt widely, including some 240 miles (386 kilometers) away in Sacramento.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at 10.40am and was centered 60 miles (96.5 kilometers) northwest of Ridgecrest in the Owens Valley region

Aftershocks have been reported across the area, with Accuweather reporting that there have been 'more than 10'

Aftershocks have been reported across the area, with Accuweather reporting that there have been ‘more than 10’

Closest to the epicenter, most of rural Inyo County felt the quake, especially people in the little community of Lone Pine, the Sheriff’s Office said while posting quake safety tips on social media. 

The department also shared that a rock slide occurred in the area, soon after the earthquake. 

‘We are assessing a reported rockslide on Whitney Portal Road and reported debris on Horseshoe Meadows Road,’ the Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. ‘No additional information is known at this time. All updates will be posted.’ 

The Inyo County Sheriff's Department also shared that a rock slide occurred in the area, soon after the earthquake

The Inyo County Sheriff’s Department also shared that a rock slide occurred in the area, soon after the earthquake 

'We are assessing a reported rockslide on Whitney Portal Road and reported debris on Horseshoe Meadows Road,' the Sheriff's Department said in a statement. 'No additional information is known at this time. All updates will be posted'

‘We are assessing a reported rockslide on Whitney Portal Road and reported debris on Horseshoe Meadows Road,’ the Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. ‘No additional information is known at this time. All updates will be posted’

Dust and debris fly from where the rockslide occurred after the earthquake

Dust and debris fly from where the rockslide occurred after the earthquake 

A later update from the Sheriff’s Department said that the rockslide was a result of the earthquake. No injuries have been reported.  

Veteran seismologist Lucy Jones said on Twitter that the quake occurred in the same location as a magnitude-4.6 quake Monday night.

‘That is now considered a foreshock,’ Jones wrote.

Aftershocks have been reported across the area, with Accuweather reporting that there have been ‘more than 10.’

A later update from the Sheriff's Department said that the rockslide was a result of the earthquake. No injuries have been reported (Debris that fell on cars)

A later update from the Sheriff’s Department said that the rockslide was a result of the earthquake. No injuries have been reported (Debris that fell on cars)