Two 3.0-magnitude quakes rattle Southern California communities, seismologists say

Don Sweeney
·3 min read
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Two 3.0-magnitude earthquakes minutes apart shook the Los Angeles area in California, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The double quakes struck at 9:37 p.m. and 9:41 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, in Bell, according to the USGS.

The first quake, which was 9 miles deep, hit about a half-mile from Bell.

Almost 300 people from as far away as Tijuana and Simi Valley reported feeling the tremor to the agency.

The second quake, which was 8 miles deep, also hit about a half-mile from Bell.

About 180 people from as far away as Twentynine Palms and San Fernando reported feeling the quake to the agency.

“It’s clear local tectonic plates are going ding-dong,” read one Twitter post.

“The earthquake happened in Bell practically right next door to me. good thing it was a small one,” another person wrote on Twitter.

“Bed just shook,” reported a third Twitter post.

Bell is a city of 32,000 people about 10 miles south of Los Angeles.

What to know about earthquakes

Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey says. It replaces the old Richter scale.

Quakes between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude are often felt but rarely cause much damage, according to Michigan Tech. Quakes below 2.5 magnitude are seldom felt by most people.

Earthquakes’ sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. They can happen anywhere, but they’re most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

If an earthquake strikes, it’s best to protect yourself right away. Here are tips from experts:

  • If you’re in a car: Pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.

  • If you’re in bed: Turn face-down and cover your head with a pillow.

  • If you’re outdoors: Stay away from buildings. Don’t go inside.

  • If you’re inside: Stay and don’t run outdoors. Stay away from doorways.

The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.

“Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy,” officials say. “If you’re using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops.”

Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.

Once under a table, officials say you should hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it.

“There can be serious hazards after an earthquake, such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines,” officials say. “Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock.”

How are earthquakes triggered and how are their magnitudes measured? What to know