By CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA | Reporter
Multiple earthquakes rocked Pacific Palisades over the weekend as the largest temblors in 20 years shook Southern California on July 4 and 5.
Prior to the start of the Fourth of July Palisades Parade, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Searles Valley over 150 miles away in Ridgecrest, California, prompting Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency in the city of about 29,000 residents.
The shake was felt by some in the Palisades as a discombobulating rolling motion and lasted for around 20 seconds before several lower-intensity aftershocks sent residents to pack up an earthquake bag.
With the much talked about “big one” on everyone’s mind, a much stronger magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck seven miles away from the first major quake on Friday, July 5.
The shaking was reportedly felt as far as Mexico and Las Vegas, and resulted in multiple damaged structures in Ridgecrest and the nearby city of Trona.
On Saturday, the United States Geological Survey estimated a 3% chance over the next week of an earthquake of magnitude 7 or higher striking the same region.
“Such an earthquake is possible but with a low probability,” the USGS said. “The chance of an earthquake of magnitude 6 or higher is 27%, and it is most likely that as few as zero or as many as two such earthquakes may occur.”
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
