Another earthquake measuring above magnitude 4.0 struck along the Riverside–San Bernardino County line overnight.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a magnitude 4.2 earthquake hit at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, about 12 miles northeast of Indio, at a depth of roughly 2.5 miles.
No injuries or damage were reported. The quake followed a magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck the same area Monday night.
Monday’s temblor occurred at a depth of about 2 miles and was followed by at least a dozen smaller aftershocks.
Both earthquakes occurred along the Southern California segment of the San Andreas Fault.
California records thousands of earthquakes each year, though most are very minor. Several hundred reach a magnitude of 3.0, and only about 15 to 20 earthquakes reach a magnitude of 4.0 or higher, according to the USGS. In North America, only Alaska experiences more earthquakes annually than California.
What to Do During an Earthquake
Knowing how to respond during an earthquake can help reduce the risk of injury. The California Department of Public Health recommends the following steps:
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Drop: Get down onto your hands and knees immediately. This position helps prevent you from being knocked over and allows you to crawl to safety if needed.
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Cover: Protect your head and neck with one arm and take shelter under a sturdy table or desk if possible. If no shelter is available, move next to an interior wall away from windows, stay on your knees, and bend over to shield vital organs.
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Hold On: Hold onto your shelter until the shaking stops and be prepared to move with it if it shifts.