California earthquake: Powerful 6.4 magnitude tremor strikes southern part of US state

Southern California has been rocked by a powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake, the strongest to hit the region in 25 years.

Emergency crews were responding to at least 24 medical and fire incidents after the quake struck near the town of Ridgecrest on Thursday.

Residents are now assessing the damage and cleaning up the mess after tremors were felt by more than 20 million people from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

The Kern County Fire Department said it was sending search and rescue teams to the town of 28,000 people.

Firefighters battle to contain a blaze after an earthquake struck southern California
Ben Hood/Reuters

The quake, measured with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4, struck in the Mojave Desert.

In the small desert city of Ridgecrest, near the epicenter of the 6.4 magnitude earthquake, grocery store aisles were littered with smashed bottles, jars and packages.

"I mopped up over 20 gallons of wine that fell over in addition to the beer, soda and the cooler that fell over. We have several thousand dollars worth of damage," said shopkeeper James Wilhorn.

A long trench formed by an earthquake, near Ridgecrest, California.
EPA

Only a few injuries were reported, but two houses caught fire from broken gas pipes, officials said. Firefighters were seen working to put out five fires.

Water gushed up from zigzagged cracks in the pavement from busted water lines whilst deep fissures snaked across the Mojave Desert, with passersby stopping to take selfies.

US Geological Survey seismologist Lucy Jones said more than 80 aftershocks had hit the area in the hours since the initial quake.

Workers repair power lines after they were damaged during an earthquake in Trona.
EPA

"We should be expecting lots of aftershocks and some of them will be bigger than the 3s we've been having so far," Jones told a news conference. "I think the chance of having a magnitude 5...is probably greater than 50-50," she said.

The quake hit the edge of Death Valley National Park about 113 miles northeast of Los Angeles at about 10:30am on Thursday.

It was very shallow, only 6.7 miles deep, amplifying its effect, and was felt in an area inhabited by 20 million people, the European quake agency EMSC said.

Vehicles drive over a crack on Highway 178 south of Trona, after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit in Ridgecrest, California.
AFP/Getty Images

The Ridgecrest Regional Hospital, where 15 patients were evacuated earlier, appeared intact apart from some new cracks in the walls.

California Governor Gavin Newsom approved an emergency proclamation, and Ridgecrest Mayor Peggy Breeden said she had declared a state of emergency, a step that enables the town to receive help from outside agencies.

Mayor Breeden said she has asked residents to check on their neighbours in the high desert town.

A damaged home is seen after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit in Ridgecrest, California.
AFP/Getty Images

"We're a close-knit community and everybody is working to take care of each other," she said.

People from Las Vegas to the Pacific Coast reported feeling a rolling motion that shook shower doors and made hanging dining room lights sway.

President Donald Trump said he was fully briefed on the earthquake and that it "all seems to be very much under control!"

Agencies took to social media to ask people to only call 911 for emergencies.

"We are very much aware of the significant earthquake that just occurred in Southern California. Please DO NOT call 9-1-1 unless there are injuries or other dangerous conditions. Don't call for questions please," the LAPD said in a statement published on Twitter.

Ashleigh Chandler, a helicopter rescue worker at Fort Irwin, California, said the quake happened as she was getting ready for a July 4 party.

"I was just in the living room getting everything ready, we start to feel the shaking, so then I look up and then the wine bottles start rattling and I thought, 'They're going to fall'.

"My sister was in the house and my dog, so we just got everyone outside and then it ended. It was like 15, 20 seconds, maybe. It was pretty good shaking, so I'm out of breath."

Fissures that opened up under a highway during a powerful earthquake that struck Southern California.
REUTERS

Veteran seismologist Lucy Jones said the earthquake was the strongest to hit southern California in 20 years.

She said a 7.1 quake struck in the area on October 16 1999.

Agencies contributed to this report.

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