Second powerful earthquake rocks California in two days
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake on Friday in Southern California triggered reports of damage in communities in the northwest area of San Bernardino County, near where the temblor hit, the county Fire Department said on Twitter.
"Homes shifted, foundation cracks, retaining walls down," the department said on Twitter.
"One injury (minor) with firefighters treating patient. No unmet needs currently."
The US Geological Survey says the quake hit at 8.19 pm (local time) on Friday and was centred 17 kilometres from Ridgecrest, where a 6.4- magnitude quake struck on Thursday.
The Mercalli Scale used to measure earthquakes is not linear. A M7.1 earthquake is 11.2 times stronger than a M6.4.
In other words, the strength and damage potential increases rapidly as the magnitude increases.
------Ridgecrest, CA------
-FRI PM: M7.1
-THU AM: M6.4 pic.twitter.com/ndWDpiswV3— Bryan Bennett (@weatherbryan) July 6, 2019
The quake was felt downtown as a rolling motion that seemed to last at least a half-minute.
It was felt as far away as Las Vegas and the USGS says it also was felt in Mexico.
If the preliminary magnitude is correct, it would be the largest Southern California quake in 20 years.
With Associated Press and Reuters
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