A tremor registering a preliminary 3.9-magnitude jolted the area near Lake Elsinore on Thursday morning, as confirmed by the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake struck precisely at 9:39 a.m. and was located approximately 3.7 miles from the city in Riverside County, according to CBS Los Angeles. The quake comes amid a recent sequence of seismic activity that has been felt across the Southern California region.
Rumblings from this latest quake were reported to have extended as far as Glendora and San Clemente, though there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries as per ABC7. This tremor adds to the tally of hundreds felt annually in California, only a fraction of which exceed a magnitude of 3.0. In fact, "only about 15 to 20 are greater than magnitude 4.0," as noted by KTLA 5 News.
The quake's depth was measured at roughly 8.8 km, per the USGS data shared in KTLA 5 News' coverage. With Alaska being the only state in North America to record more earthquakes than California annually, residents are well-acquainted with the inherent risks and the importance of being prepared for such natural events.
Given the unpredictability and potential danger of earthquakes, the California Department of Public Health advocates for the "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" method during an event. This includes dropping down onto hands and knees to avoid being knocked over, using one arm to cover the head and neck while taking shelter under a sturdy piece of furniture or against an interior wall, and holding on to the shelter until the shaking subsides.
