Southern California residents had a jarring start to their day as the region experienced three separate earthquakes in less than 12 hours.
Two of the tremors struck just ten minutes apart, leaving many people feeling the ground move beneath them in the early morning hours.
Details of the Quakes
The first earthquake was detected at 4 a.m. Eastern Time by the US Geological Survey (USGS), followed by two more roughly eight hours later.
The largest measured a 3.6 magnitude, while the weaker tremors registered at 2.7. Scientists confirmed that the quakes were strong enough to be felt by people, though fortunately, no injuries or property damage have been reported so far.
The San Jacinto Fault Zone
All three earthquakes occurred along the San Jacinto Fault Zone, a highly active strike-slip fault that stretches through San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, and Imperial Counties.
This fault is capable of generating major earthquakes measuring magnitude 7 or higher, but it most commonly produces moderate tremors in the 5.0 to 6.5 range.
While the fault does not pass directly through Los Angeles, scientists have cautioned that a large quake along this line could still have serious consequences for the city and surrounding areas.
Ongoing Monitoring and Updates
Authorities and seismologists continue to monitor the situation closely.
With Southern California sitting atop multiple active fault lines, residents are reminded to stay prepared for aftershocks or future seismic activity.
This story is developing, and more updates will be provided as information becomes available.