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Fires break out after second earthquake in two days hits California

Fires break out after second earthquake in two days hits California

Emergency services in California are battling fires that have broken out in the wake of the second e..

adminJuly 6, 2019 5:00 pm

Emergency services in California are battling fires that have broken out in the wake of the second earthquake in two days

Emergency services in California are battling fires that have broken out in the wake of the second earthquake in two days (Picture: AP)

California has been rocked by an earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale – the largest in 20 years.

The jolt has caused fires to break out across much of the state, and has been followed by a series of aftershocks.

It hit at 8.19pm local time on Friday (4.19am on Saturday in the UK) and was centred 11 miles from Ridgecrest.

The quake is now the second one to hit the region in just two days, after a 6.4-magnitude tremor was recorded on Thursday.

Both epicentres sit 11 miles from Ridgecrest, close to Searles in the Mohave Desert.

People observe a mobile home in Ridgecrest, Calif. on Friday July 5, 2019. The home was knocked off its foundation in the Fourth of July earthquake. (James Quigg/The Daily Press via AP)

Homes have been badly damaged in the quakes (Picture: AP)

A fire breaks out behind the Casa Corona restaurant following an earthquake in Ridgecrest, Calif., Friday, July 5, 2019. (Jessica Weston/The Daily Independent via AP)

Fridays quake was the second one in two days (Picture: AP)

In this Thursday, July 4, 2019 photo, Kern County firefighters work to knock down a fire that severely damaged a home on South Sunland Street in Ridgecrest, Calif., following a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that shook the region about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles. Aftershocks from Southern California's largest earthquake in 20 years rumbled beneath the Mojave Desert on Friday as authorities tallied damage in the sparsely populated region. (Jack Barnwell/The Daily Independent via AP)

Firefighters are doing their best to contend with the flames (Picture: AP)

The second one was felt as far north as Sacramento, as far east as Las Vegas and as far south as Mexico.

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The area in and around Ridgecrest, already trying to recover from the previous quake, took the brunt of damage.

Kern County Fire Chief David Witt said there had been no reports of building collapses or deaths, but a number of people have suffered minor injuries.

Meanwhile, a rockslide closed State Route 178 in Kern River Canyon, where photos from witnesses also showed that a stretch of the road had sunk.

San Bernardino County firefighters reported cracked buildings and one minor injury.

Definitely felt stronger and longer to me than yesterdays. #Downey pic.twitter.com/GI8v4IIM2w

— Neal Mongan (@LawEnfTrng) July 6, 2019

epa07698322 A handout photo made available by the US Geological Survey (USGS) shows a shake map of the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that hit near Ridgecrest, California, USA, 05 July 2019. Its epicenter was recorded at a depth of 17 kilometers, kilometers North North East of Ridgecrest, California. EPA/USGS HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

Both epicentres sit 11 miles from Ridgecrest, close to Searles in the Mohave Desert (Picture: EPA)

Cracks are seen on the road along Hwy 178 north of Rodgecrest some 16 miles south of Trona on July 4, 2019. - Southern California was hit by its largest earthquake in two decades Friday, a 7.1-magnitude tremor that rattled residents less than 48 hours after another quake struck the same area. The shallow earthquake hit a sparsely populated area near the small town of Ridgecrest, around 150 miles (240 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles, where it was also felt. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

Roads have also been badly damaged (Picture: AFP/Getty)

In central Los Angeles, 150 miles away, offices in skyscrapers rolled and rocked for at least 30 seconds.

Andrew Lippman, who lives in suburban South Pasadena, was sitting outside reading the paper when Fridays quake hit.

It just started getting stronger and stronger, and I looked into my house and the lamp started to sway. I could see power lines swaying, he said.

This one seemed 45 (seconds)… Im still straightening pictures.

Governor Gavin Newsom activated the state office of emergency services operations centre to its highest level.

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