Watch Now
NewsLocal News

Actions

UPDATE: Injuries, fires reported after 7.1 earthquake near Ridgecrest

Posted at 8:28 PM, Jul 05, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-06 02:48:58-04

UPDATE (11:46 p.m.)- Cal OES is giving an update on earthquake response efforts in a press conference right now. Watch live below.

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.

 

UPDATE (10:42 p.m.) – The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has activated its State Operations Center in response to Friday’s 7.1 earthquake in Ridgecrest.

Gov. Gavin Newsom says he has spoken with Ridgecrest Mayor Peggy Breeden and offered support.

There were reports of trailers burning at a mobile home. World Central Kitchen shared video of the fire on Twitter.

A portion of State Route 178 in Kern County was closed by a rockslide and roadway damage.

 

UPDATE (10:23 p.m.) – Kern County Fire Chief David Witt said at a late Friday evening press conference that the department had received a lot of medical calls following the 7.1 earthquake near Ridgecrest, but no reports of fatalities at this time.

Witt said the plan moving forward is to systematically search the Ridgecrest area for anyone who may be trapped.

He said there have been no reports so far of major building collapses.

Witt added that a preliminary inspection of the Lake Isabella Dam revealed no problems.

On the Central Coast, local fire agencies reported no damage from the quake.

 

UPDATE (9:54 p.m.) – An earthquake rattled Dodger Stadium in the fourth inning of the team’s game against the San Diego Padres.

The quake on Friday night happened when Dodgers second baseman Enriquè Hernàndez was batting. It didn’t appear to affect him or Padres pitcher Eric Lauer.

However, it was obvious to viewers of the SportsNet LA broadcast when the TV picture bounced up and down.

The quake registered an initial magnitude of 6.9 to 7.1, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

There was no announcement by the stadium’s public address announcer.

Some fans in the upper deck appeared to leave their seats and move to a concourse at the top of the stadium.

The press box lurched for about 20 seconds.

The quake occurred a day after a magnitude 6.4 quake hit in the Mojave Desert about 150 miles from Los Angeles.

UPDATE (9:37 p.m.) – Authorities are now reporting injuries and damage from a big earthquake that was felt throughout Southern California and into Las Vegas and even Mexico.

The quake that hit at 8:19 p.m. was given a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 to 7.1, but the measurements were still being calculated.

It followed Thursday’s 6.4-magnitude quake that at the time was the largest Southern California quake in 20 years. Both were centered near Ridgecrest in the Mojave Desert.

Kern County fire officials reported “multiple injuries and multiple fires” without providing details.

San Bernardino County firefighters also reported cracked buildings and a minor injury.

 

UPDATE (9:27 p.m.) – Thursday’s quake is now being termed a foreshock as Friday evening’s earthquake was larger.

A reporter in Ridgecrest called the shaking “violent.”

 

UPDATE (9:20 p.m.) – Another strong aftershock was reported in Ridgecrest around 9:15 p.m.

USGS reports the shaking during Friday’s quake lasted longer and was more intense than Thursday’s 6.4 quake.

The epicenter appears to be a little deeper than yesterday’s quake.

 

UPDATE (8:59 p.m.) – USGS has revised estimates again back to the original 7.1 magnitude.

CAL FIRE SLO and San Luis Obispo City Fire have no reports of any damage from the shaking felt across the county.

 

(8:28 p.m.) – An earthquake rattled Southern California on Friday and swaying was felt in Los Angeles, the day after the most powerful earthquake in the region in two decades.

Viewers across the Central Coast have reported feeling the strong quake.

The United States Geological Survey said that Friday’s quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.1. The epicenter of the temblor that struck at 8:20 p.m. was thought to be around 10 miles north-northeast of Ridgecrest at a depth of 0.9 kilometers, or around a half-mile, the agency said.

That’s the same area where Thursday’s earthquake was recorded. That 6.4 magnitude quake was called the strongest to hit Southern California since 1999.

Friday night, the power went out in Ridgecrest, a city of 27,600, around 100 miles north of Los Angeles, according to NBC reporters in the area.

In the Los Angeles area, prolonged shaking and swaying was felt.

The Los Angeles Police Department tweeted “yet another earthquake” and said that it and city departments would be ensuring everyone in the city was safe.

Friday’s earthquake struck during a Major League Baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres in LA that was televised by Fox Sports. Dodgers stadium seemed to shake and roll for nearly a minute as the crowd let out a roar.

Seismologists at Cal Tech said Friday afternoon that there had been around 1,400 aftershocks since Thursday’s 6.4-magnitude quake, with 17 of those with a magnitude of 4 or above.

There are no reports of damage at this time.

Santa Barbara County Fire reports initiated earthquake protocol but no issues reported.

This is a developing story, stick with KSBY for more updates. Have video? Tag us on #BeOnKSBY.

NBC News contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
KSBY-70 sidebar promo.jpg