Klamath Falls, Oregon – A small earthquake struck rural Southern Oregon late Monday night, registering a magnitude 3.3 about 36 kilometers east of Bonanza and lightly shaking parts of eastern Klamath County.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the tremor occurred at 10:52 p.m. local time Monday and originated about 6.9 kilometers below the surface. The epicenter sits in sparsely populated terrain between Bonanza and the Oregon–Nevada border region, an area that occasionally experiences minor seismic activity.
While earthquakes of this size rarely cause structural damage, residents near Bonanza, Beatty, and rural communities along Oregon Route 140 and Oregon Route 66 could notice a brief jolt or vibration, especially indoors. Shallow quakes under 10 kilometers deep can sometimes feel sharper even when magnitudes remain relatively low.
Emergency managers in Klamath County typically advise residents to review basic earthquake safety after any tremor. That includes securing heavy furniture, identifying safe shelter spots inside the home, and knowing to drop, cover, and hold on if stronger shaking occurs in the future.
At this magnitude, widespread damage or disruptions to roads, utilities, or infrastructure are not expected. Still, the USGS encourages residents who felt shaking to submit a “Did You Feel It?” report to help scientists better map the quake’s reach.
Seismologists will continue monitoring Southern Oregon for additional activity, though aftershocks are unlikely with an event this small.
