Magnitude 4.9 earthquake strikes Southern California

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck Southern California, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake was felt strongly near the epicenter.

The earthquake struck at 5:56 p.m. local time near Indio, the USGS said. The epicenter was about 12 miles northeast of Indio and roughly 21 miles east of Palm Springs, at a depth of about 2 miles.

The USGS initially reported the earthquake as magnitude 5.1, later downgraded it to 4.6, and subsequently revised it to magnitude 4.9.

An earthquake alert was sent to phones in the area, including parts of Moreno Valley, seconds before the shaking was felt.

Shaking was reported across a wide area, including parts of Los Angeles and San Diego, based on preliminary reports. Users near Indio and surrounding communities reported strong shaking.

“Major shake in Indio. No damage but a few items fell off shelf and paintings are shifted,” a resident reported to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). Other users said the shaking lasted about seven to 10 seconds.

Several smaller aftershocks were recorded after the main earthquake, including one measuring magnitude 3.4, according to preliminary data.