Three Minor Earthquakes Shake Southern California Within 13 Hours

THERMAL, California – Southern California experienced three minor earthquakes on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The first quake, measuring a magnitude of 2.5, struck at 12:21 a.m. PST, located 12 kilometers northeast of Thermal.

About 13 hours later, at 5:32 a.m. PST, a second quake, this time measuring 2.6 in magnitude, was recorded 17 kilometers northeast of Thousand Palms. The third earthquake occurred at 1:34 a.m. PST, with a magnitude of 2.5, just 2 kilometers east of San Jacinto.

All three quakes occurred at depths ranging from 8 kilometers to 14 kilometers beneath the surface, which is typical for the seismically active region located along the San Jacinto Fault Zone. While magnitudes of 2.5 and 2.6 are generally considered minor, residents in communities near the epicenters sometimes reported light shaking.

As of Thursday morning, only a few reports had been submitted to the USGS’s “Did You Feel It?” feature, indicating limited impact from the earthquakes. No damage or injuries have been reported, according to officials.

Seismologists noted that small clusters of earthquakes like these are common in the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley and do not usually signify that a larger quake is approaching. However, they advise residents to keep earthquake readiness kits on hand and review safety measures.

Local residents are encouraged to stay alert for future seismic activity and to take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.