A 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit near Bakersfield on Tuesday evening, shaking Southern California with strong shockwaves. The earthquake struck just after
9 p.m. at a depth of about 6 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was located 7.6 miles west-northwest of Mettler in Kern County, nearly 19 miles south of Bakersfield, and 89 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.
People in Ventura, Simi Valley, Camarillo, Santa Clarita, Encino, Hollywood, Santa Monica, North Hollywood, and Woodland Hills felt the quake. Caltech’s Seismological Laboratory reported at least 31 aftershocks, with the largest reaching a 4.5 magnitude.
The Los Angeles Fire Department activated “earthquake mode” and all 106 neighborhood fire stations began checking the area by land, sea, and air. They reported no initial signs of structural damage or injuries. An update will be provided once the checks are complete.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying that city teams will continue to monitor the situation. L.A. Metro also posted on X, stating that trains would run slower as part of their earthquake procedure to check for any damage.