California hit by powerful second quake
City hit by fires and buildings damaged
Apowerful earthquake hit California in the early hours of Saturday, damaging buildings, igniting fires and breaking up roads.
The 7.1- magnitude earth tremor jolted much of California just after 8pm local time and was centred 11 miles from Ridgecrest, in the same area where a 6.4- magnitude tremor hit on Thursday.
California is prone to earthquakes because it sits on the San Andreas Fault.
British comedian Stephen Fry was in the Hollywood Hills when the quake hit. He said: “Whoa! Was that aftershock just now or a whole new quake?”
Saturday’s quake was the most powerful to hit southern California in at least 20 years and was followed by a series of aftershocks, some with a magnitude above 5.0.
Seismologists warn there is a onein-10 chance another 7.0-magnitude quake could hit within the next week.
The area in and around Ridgecrest took the brunt of damage yesterday and left several thousand people without power.
Mark Ghillarducci, director of California Office of Emergency Services, said: “There are significant reports of structure fires, mostly as a result of gas leaks or gas- line breaks throughout the city.”
In central Los Angeles, 150 miles
away, skyscrapers rolled and rocked for at least 30 seconds.
C a l i f o r n i a G ov e r n o r Ga v i n Newsom activated the state office of emergency ser vices operations centre to its highest level, and announced he had requested President Donald Trump issue an emergency declaration so the state can receive federal aid.
Lucy Jones, a seismologist at the California Institute of Technology, said: “You know we say we have a one in 20 chance that an earthquake will be followed by something bigger? This is that one in 20 time.”
Disneyland in Orange County and Six Flags Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita closed their rides after the quake.
Meanwhile, an earthquake was recorded near Kilchrenan in Argyll on Monday, July 1.
The 1.8- magnitude tremor happened at 10.16pm at a depth of 7km, with the epicentre nearly two miles from the village.
British Geological Survey seismologist Davie Galloway said it was felt by a small number of people in Kilmelford, Fasnacloich and Lismore.
He said: “Reports described a long low rumble, like heavy lorry passing.”