6.4 magnitude earthquake hits Southern California

An earthquake hit large swaths of Southern California on Thursday.

The quake, which measured a magnitude of 6.4, hit near Ridgecrest, outside of Los Angeles, according to the United States Geological Survey.

{mosads}Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (D) said the Los Angeles Fire Department had reported “no significant #earthquake damage” but that city agencies remain on alert. 

.@LAFD has completed their surveys of @LACity and reported no significant #earthquake damage from today’s quake near Ridgecrest.

City agencies are working together and staying on alert. Be prepared, sign up for emergency alerts. https://t.co/SipLt5U1Rj

— Mayor Eric Garcetti (@MayorOfLA) July 4, 2019

The Los Angeles Police Department said it has not yet received any reports of damage or calls for service within the city, but officials urged people to only call 911 in an emergency out of fear the call lines could get clogged.

“We are aware of the significant earthquake that just occurred in SoCal PLEASE do NOT call 9-1-1 unless there are injuries or other dangerous questions Please do not call for questions,” the Los Angeles Fire Department tweeted.

#earthquake We are aware of the significant earthquake that just occurred in SoCal PLEASE do NOT call 9-1-1 unless there are injuries or other dangerous questions Please do not call for questions

— LAFD (@LAFD) July 4, 2019

The quake is the largest to hit Southern California since the 6.6 magnitude Northridge quake in 1994, which killed dozens and caused billions of dollars in damage. However, while that quake hit the center of a populated area, Thursday’s epicenter was more removed from metropolitan Los Angeles.

People reported feeling tremors from the Mojave desert to the Pacific Coast.

President Trump addressed the quake on Twitter, saying that the situation “seems to be very much under control.”

Been fully briefed on earthquake in Southern California. All seems to be very much under control!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2019

“I was in my kitchen trying to get some coffee and all the windows started rattling,” Emma Gallegos, a 34-year-old journalist in southwest Bakersfield, told the Los Angeles Times. “It was just a little bit at first — I thought something was going by, and then I realized all the windows were rattling. It was kind of a long gentle roll and I felt two distinct waves.”

“I was laying down in my bed and I had my feet on the wall and I felt like both of the sides of the house were moving and shaking so I ran, and grabbed my brother and kid and came outside,” said Edith Mata, 22, a student at Bakersfield College.

The quake was felt in the Los Angeles area for about 30 seconds, according to local reports.

—Updated at 4:06 p.m.