Fourth Major Earthquake Jolts California

Just two days after a massive earthquake occurred off the northern coast of California, causing a tsunami warning and the evacuation of hundreds of Crescent City residents, two more massive quakes shook the state and rattled people's nerves. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a 4.9 quake hit in the early afternoon, centered near Yucaipa in San Bernardino County, east of Los Angeles. Over the course of the next hour, about 25 aftershocks followed, with the strongest of those estimated at a magnitude of 3.5. Residents from Los Angeles to San Diego reported minor damages and rock slides, but there was no significant amount of damage and no injuries were reported. Most people who live in California are used to the earth shaking from time to time, but having four large temblors in the space of just a few days has even long-time residents feeling shaky. "All of a sudden it just started rocking," said John Napolitano, 45, a Crafton Hills College campus police officer. "I just sat there and rode it out." A manager of a store in Yucaipa, 25-year old Nick Brandes said, "I heard a loud rumbling sound, kind of like thunder. At the front, all the customers were in a panic. They were all just in a hurry to get out."

The quake early Thursday afternoon was the third significant one to hit California this week. A 5.2 magnitude quake shattered Riverside County on Sunday, and then the huge 7.2 quake struck under the ocean Tuesday night about 90 miles off the cost of northern California. The third quake occurred near the San Andreas fault, but not directly over it, according to Lucy Jones, a scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Saying that the temblor was not a direct aftershock from the week's previous quakes, she added that this is not an unusual level of earthquake activity. But then, hours later, a fourth strong quake struck off the state's northern coast. A 4.9-magnitude earthquake shook east of Los Angeles, startling people yet again and knocking things off shelves and counters. Another spokeswoman for the U.S. Geological Survey said that Thursday night's quake was most likely an aftershock from the massive underwater earthquake that happened on Tuesday night.

No power was lost and no serious injuries have been reported from any of the earthquakes, even though there was one report of a woman at Lake Arrowhead Resort who had a light fixture fall on her head in a conference room, an injury that did not appear to be serious. Most people have spent the week putting things back on the shelves, sweeping up broken glass, and biting their fingernails hoping that another quake won't hit and make them have to do it all over again.