Remote Surveillance Trailer in Indio, CA

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA - the U.S. Geological Survey reported that a 4.9 magnitude quake shook close to Indio Monday afternoon.

A tremor rattled the area at 5:56 p.m. The earthquake's epicenter was situated approximately 12 miles north-northeast of Indio and occurred at a depth of just 2 miles. Seismologists first reported it as a 5.1 event, but later downgraded it to 4.9.

Did you feel it?

If you experienced the quake, you can submit a report through the USGS Felt Report form. The agency has so far received 8208 reports via its online form from people who report they felt the tremor. According to the USGS DYFI report, moderate shaking was registered and residents in cities such as Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Chatsworth, Northridge and Granada Hills reported experiencing the earthquake.

Did you capture the aftermath?

If you have images showing the effects of the earthquake, we invite you to share them with us at sacbee.com/customer-service/submit-photo.

Impact and estimated losses

Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides and liquefaction that might have contributed to losses.

Structure information summary Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are unreinforced brick masonry and reinforced masonry construction.

What to know about earthquakes

Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U. S. Geological Survey says. It replaces the old Richter scale. Quakes between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude are often felt but rarely cause much damage, according to Michigan Tech. Earthquakes below 2.5 magnitude are seldom felt by most people.

Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. They can happen anywhere, but are most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. 100,000 of those can be felt, and 100 of them cause damage.

What to do during an earthquake

If an earthquake strikes, it's best to protect yourself right away. Here are tips from experts:

If you're in a car: Pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.

If you're in bed: Turn face-down and cover your head with a pillow.

If you're outdoors: Stay away from buildings. Don't go inside.

If you're inside: Stay and don't run outdoors. Stay away from doorways.

The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say. "Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy," officials say. "If you're using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops." Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows. Once under a table, officials say you should hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it.

"There can be serious hazards after an earthquake, such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines," officials say. "Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock."

Source: The U.S. Geological Survey

United Robots California

A 3.8 magnitude earthquake struck Indio on Tuesday morning, just hours after several temblors shook the area on Monday afternoon and evening.

According to the United States Geological Survey, Tuesday's quake struck at 10:48 a.m. about 11 miles north of Indio in the Palm Desert region of Riverside County. The geological depth was about 1.3 miles. It was initially reported as a preliminary 3.6 magnitude.

Minutes later, at 11:22 a.m., a 3.2 magnitude aftershock was reported in the same area.

Tuesday's temblors were the latest in a series headlined by a 4.9 magnitude earthquake at 5:57 p.m. in the same area.

Several aftershocks followed, reaching magnitudes as high as 3.4 and 3.3.

The quakes were all along the San Andreas Fault system.

No injuries or damages have been reported in the aftermath of any of the reported earthquakes.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA - A 2.3 magnitude quake was recorded close to Indio Wednesday night, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

A tremor struck the area at 9 p.m. The earthquake's epicenter was situated about 12 miles north-northeast of Indio and occurred at a depth of just 3 miles.

Did you feel it?

You can let the USGS know if you experienced the quake by filling out their Felt Report form.

Tremors past week

24 quakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater were detected in the region last week. The biggest, a 4.9 magnitude earthquake, jolted the same region two days ago.

What to know about earthquakes

Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U. S. Geological Survey says. It replaces the old Richter scale. Quakes between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude are often felt but rarely cause much damage, according to Michigan Tech. Earthquakes below 2.5 magnitude are seldom felt by most people.

Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. They can happen anywhere, but are most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. 100,000 of those can be felt, and 100 of them cause damage.

What to do during an earthquake

If an earthquake strikes, it's best to protect yourself right away. Here are tips from experts:

If you're in a car: Pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.

If you're in bed: Turn face-down and cover your head with a pillow.

If you're outdoors: Stay away from buildings. Don't go inside.

If you're inside: Stay and don't run outdoors. Stay away from doorways.

The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say. "Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy," officials say. "If you're using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops." Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows. Once under a table, officials say you should hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it.

"There can be serious hazards after an earthquake, such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines," officials say. "Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock."

Source: The U.S. Geological Survey

United Robots California

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA - Tuesday evening, a 2.8 magnitude quake was recorded near Indio, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

At 8:01 p.m., the area was shaken by a tremor. The earthquake struck at a depth of just 2 miles, with its epicenter roughly 12 miles north-northeast of Indio. The magnitude was originally reported as 2.6 but later upgraded to 2.8.

Did you feel it?

If you noticed the quake, you can report it via the USGS Felt Report form.

Earthquakes past week

19 tremors of magnitude 2.5 or above have been reported in the region over the last week. The largest one was a 4.9 earthquake that was detected in the same area one day ago.

What to know about earthquakes

Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U. S. Geological Survey says. It replaces the old Richter scale. Quakes between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude are often felt but rarely cause much damage, according to Michigan Tech. Earthquakes below 2.5 magnitude are seldom felt by most people.

Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. They can happen anywhere, but are most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. 100,000 of those can be felt, and 100 of them cause damage.

What to do during an earthquake

If an earthquake strikes, it's best to protect yourself right away. Here are tips from experts:

If you're in a car: Pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.

If you're in bed: Turn face-down and cover your head with a pillow.

If you're outdoors: Stay away from buildings. Don't go inside.

If you're inside: Stay and don't run outdoors. Stay away from doorways.

The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say. "Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy," officials say. "If you're using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops." Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows. Once under a table, officials say you should hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it.

"There can be serious hazards after an earthquake, such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines," officials say. "Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock."

Source: The U.S. Geological Survey

United Robots California

INDIO, CA — A Southern California quake swarm is rattling the region Tuesday, with jolts felt across hundreds of miles. The swarm continues a day after an Early Earthquake Warning blasted millions of California cell phones ahead of a large temblor that struck in the Coachella Valley.

A magnitude 4.9 quake struck near Indio Monday night, triggering the klaxon-blaring of the early earthquake warning alarm. It was quickly followed by a loud rumble a sharp jolt, jostling frames on walls and setting chandeliers swaying.

For those close by, it was "intense," one reader told Patch. "I live in Palm Desert, and it was really loud, and honestly very scary, and I've been through some major ones," Stephanie Schulte said. "It turned our television off at home, and when I arrived at work (in Indio), framed photos on my desk were toppled."

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage on either Monday or Tuesday. "At this time, the city of Indio has no reports of injuries and no immediate reports of any visible road damage related to this evening's earthquake. Our water system is secure and stable," a city spokesperson said in a statement Monday.

Over 12 hours after the initial quake, aftershocks continue to shake the area. This is expected, according to Gabrielle Tepp, a seismologist for Caltech, who released a report on the incident in Indio.

Here are five things to know about the Indio Quake Swarm:

The main event.

The earthquake that triggered the swarm, a 4.9 magnitude temblor, struck on Monday, just before 6 p.m., just north of Indio, at a depth of 3.1 kilometers, about 20 kilometers north, northeast of Indio, according to the Southern California Seismic Network.

Amid hundreds of aftershocks, what are the chance of a larger quake?

There have been over 207 recorded aftershocks, as of 11 a.m. Tuesday. The largest aftershock was 3.8 magnitude, and the smallest was just 0.5, according to the Southern California Seismic Network. Thus far, there have been ten aftershocks of magnitude 3.0 or higher. There is a 5 percent chance of a larger quake, but that chance decreases over time, according to Dr. Lucy Jones and the SCNS. On Tuesday, more than 12 hours after the initial quake, the largest aftershock struck just before 10:48 a.m. at a 3.8 magnitude. And the hits just keep coming, according to people who live and work in nearby Indio.

There was a foreshock.

There was at least one event within a 10-kilometer radius during the three days before the Indio earthquake. The largest of which was a magnitude .8.

How rare are quakes this large?

Since 1932, 44 earthquakes of note have struck within 10 kilometers of Monday's quake, according to Newman. The largest of those was a 6.1 magnitude earthquake that struck on April 23, 1992. The more recent 4.2 quake in the area struck on July 22, 2019.

No need to worry about the San Andreas Fault with this one.

Seismologist, Dr. Lucy Jones, took to Blue Sky to calm her audience. "To those with long memories, this looks similar to the beginning of the 1992 Joshua Tree sequence," she wrote, alluding to the 6.1 quake. "However, 1992 was west of this event and thus closer to the San Andreas."

"(The quake was centered) east of the San Andreas fault, far enough away to not change the likelihood of a quake on the San Andreas," Jones wrote. "It's located very near the minor EW-striking Blue Cut fault line."

According to the Southern California Seismic Network, the quake struck near as series of smaller faults including Blue Cut fault zone (Blue Cut fault) (1.8 km), Indio Hills fault zone (6.6 km), Berdoo Canyon fault zone (8.1 km), unnamed Fault in the Little San Bernardino Mountains (11.3 km), San Andreas fault zone, San Bernardino Mountains section (North Branch SAF) (12.3 km), San Andreas fault zone, Coachella section (13.2 km) and San Andreas fault zone, San Bernardino Mountains section (South Branch SAF) (13.6 km).

See how far away it was felt on this combined seismograph:

In California, an earthquake warning can give residents crucial seconds to take cover before the shaking arrives. "Managed by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Earthquake Warning California uses ground motion sensors from across the state to detect earthquakes before humans can feel them.

A loud alert, combined with a message on your phone, will tell you to "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" in advance of an earthquake.

Sign up for earthquake warning alerts by downloading the MyShake App on your cell phone.

Related: