As Mojave Desert recovers, second quake hits — a 7.1.
7.1magnitude temblor rattles already shakenup Southern California
A 7.1magnitude earthquake struck the Mojave Desert in Southern California at 8:19 p.m. Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake was the second major temblor in two days in the Searles Valley near the Kern County town of Ridgecrest. A 6.4magnitude earthquake hit the area on the Fourth of July, rattling nerves across Southern California.
“The damage will be substantial compared to when it was a 6.4 magnitude,” said Jana Pursley, a geophysicist with the USGS. “With earthquakes of this size, there will be damage and very likely injuries.”
There were no immediate reports of major injuries or structural damage Friday night. Minimal damage was reported from Thursday’s quake.
Pursley said California residents could expect aftershocks of varying magnitudes in the following hours, days and even weeks. There were several midsized aftershocks immediately after the Friday quake.
Pursley said generally, in earthquake terminology, the largest earthquake event is the main shock, so the 6.4 quake
may be classified as a foreshock.
“We need more time to look at the aftershocks and the relationship between the quakes,” Pursley said.
Shaking from the Friday night quake, which struck in the Airport Lake Fault Zone, was felt all across Southern California and as far north as San Jose.
Officer Albie Esparza, a public information officer with San Francisco Police Department, tweeted just minutes after the quake, “Who felt tremor? I’m at sfo international building was swaying a little?”
In Discovery Bay, staff at the Italian restaurant Vin Alegro said they felt tremors from the quake. “We have hanging lights; our sound system hangs from the ceiling, and they were all swaying pretty crazy,” said bartender Marcella Chavez.
At the Boardwalk Grill, which is on the water in Discovery Bay, hostess Morgan Boer said the restaurant chandeliers were moving and diners felt movement. She said the rolling lasted about 10 to 15 seconds.
Reports of shaking also came from Phoenix, according to the National Weather Service’s Phoenix office, and a game in the NBA Summer League under way in Las Vegas was postponed due to the quake.
Los Angeles International Airport and the Hollywood Burbank Airport announced that they deployed crews to inspect their airfields and terminals for signs of damage. As of 9:30 p.m., airport officials had not received any reports of damage or injuries.
Gov. Gavin Newsom activated the State Operations Center, where officials monitored earthquake activity, according to California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services officials.
“In response to another large earthquake in Southern California tonight, I have activated the @Cal_OES state operation center to its highest level, and the state is coordinating mutual aid to local first responders,” Newsom said on Twitter.
The area was hit by repeated aftershocks in the 24 hours that followed Thursday’s quake. USGS officials had said that the chances of an aftershock being stronger than the initial quake were about 1 in 20. Chronicle staff writer Bob Egelko contributed to this report. Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@ sfchronicle.com