UPDATED: New powerful 7.1 earthquake hits Southern California
A magnitude-7.1 earthquake hit Southern California on — just a day after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake that was the largest temblor in the region in two decades.
The newest earthquake’s epicenter was about 10 miles north northeast of Ridgecrest, Calif., about 150 northeast of Los Angeles.
The Ridgecrest area has had more than 100 aftershocks since Thursday’s earthquake and experts warn there could be more to come.
Ridgecrest Mayor Peggy Breeden said by telephone: “We’ve got fires, we’ve got gas leaks, we’ve got injuries, we’ve got people without power, We’re dealing with it as best we can.”
Other officials said the extent of injuries and damage was as yet unknown, but there were no fatalities reported so far.
Seismologists say there have been 1,700 aftershocks in the wake of the strongest earthquake to hit Southern California in 20 years.
