5.4 Earthquake Rattles Southern California!

It was certainly a jolt yesterday where I am.  A moderate magnitude-5.4 earthquake jolted Southern California on Wednesday, rattling buildings in downtown Los Angeles, toppling wine bottles at desert resorts and briefly halting rides at Disneyland. (See USGS).

It struck at 4:53 p.m. and was centered 28 miles south of Palm Springs, or about 130 miles east of Los Angeles, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Dozens of aftershocks have been recorded, with the largest measuring magnitude-3.0.

Police Lt. John Booth said there were no reports of serious damage or injuries in Palm Springs, a desert city of about 43,000, but the phone was ringing off the hook and many residents were shaken up.


The earthquake had no effect on the Palm Springs Tramway, which takes tourists and hikers to the top of Mt. San Jacinto. But the seismic action triggered a rock slide on a nearby ridge, tramway spokeswoman Lena Zimmerschied said.