A preliminary magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck near Bakersfield and shook as far as Los Angeles County.
The incident occurred around 9:09 p.m. about 14 miles southwest of Lamont, California, on the border with Bakersfield. It’s a relatively rural area about 90 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.
Immediately after the earthquake, the Los Angeles Fire Department deployed its helicopters to survey the area for possible damage.
“Our @LAFD has been activated to conduct their routine survey of the city and assess any potential damage,” Mayor Karen Bass tweeted. “City crews will continue to monitor for any impacts.”
The U.S. Geological Survey released a map showing the intensity of the shaking in the areas surrounding Lamont. According to the map, the shaking was mild in Los Angeles County, but mild to moderate near Lamont’s epicenter.
According to the USGS, geologists believe there is little to no risk of landslides or liquefaction in the area.
Allen Husker, a research professor of seismology at the California Institute of Technology, attributed the shaking in Los Angeles to the basin effect. Basins, because of their softer nature, tend to amplify shaking.
More than a dozen other earthquakes followed the first, with magnitudes ranging from 2.5 to 4.5.
Aftershocks struck near Lamont and Grapevine.
