Los Angeles, California – Three minor earthquakes struck Southern California within hours Wednesday, shaking parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties and raising concerns about renewed activity along the Los Angeles fault system.
According to the California Integrated Seismic Network, the largest quake registered as a magnitude 3.6 at 9:43 a.m. PDT, located 10 kilometers southwest of Idyllwild at a depth of 16.3 km. It followed a 2.7 magnitude quake earlier that morning near Calimesa, and another 2.7 quake at 9:31 a.m. just northwest of Rialto.
While none of the tremors caused damage or injuries, residents from Palm Springs to Ontario reported light shaking. The cluster occurred along the complex and highly active fault systems that cut across the Inland Empire—an area long monitored for major quake potential.
Experts say small quakes like these can signal stress transfer along fault lines. Though not unusual for Southern California, the timing and close proximity of these events have geologists keeping a closer watch.
Residents are urged to double-check their emergency kits, secure heavy furniture, and review earthquake safety plans. This is a good reminder that Southern California is always earthquake country.
The U.S. Geological Survey and Caltech continue to monitor for aftershocks or additional activity.
