Magnitude 7.1 earthquake hits Southern California

5 July, 2019

A 6.9 magnitude earthquake has been recorded in Southern California, according to the European Quake Monitor and the USGS.

The quake registered near Ridgecrest, California, in the environs of Death Valley National Park, on Friday night. Tremors were reported from Los Angeles to San Diego.

The quake initially registered as 7.1 in magnitude and was later revised to 6.9 by the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The quake superseded the previous day's 6.4 magnitude earthquake, which had been the largest to hit Southern California in a decade and struck the same area during the afternoon, followed by two magnitude 4 aftershocks.

Friday night's quake hit the same location as the previous day's, but was significantly stronger. Its intensity outstripped the notoriously destructive 1994 Northridge earthquake, though the damage is expected to be less due to it not striking an urban area. It was the largest to hit Southern California in over 20 years.