San Bernardino County, CA – A magnitude 3.5 earthquake was recorded Wednesday afternoon near Trona in California’s Mojave Desert, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
According to the USGS, the quake struck at 7:53 a.m. local time Wednesday, December 18, about 48 kilometers (30 miles) east-northeast of Trona. The earthquake was shallow, with an estimated depth of just 2.7 kilometers, which can increase the likelihood of it being felt near the epicenter.
The tremor occurred in a sparsely populated area of northeastern San Bernardino County, northeast of Ridgecrest and well outside major metropolitan centers. Early community reports submitted to the USGS indicated light shaking, with no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage.
USGS data shows the earthquake registered a Modified Mercalli Intensity of II to IV in nearby areas, meaning it may have been felt indoors by some residents but was unlikely to cause damage. Shallow earthquakes of this size are common in the Eastern California Shear Zone, a seismically active region that accommodates motion between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates.
Officials have not issued any alerts, advisories, or tsunami warnings related to the quake. Emergency management agencies typically remind residents that small earthquakes can be followed by aftershocks, though none have been confirmed beyond routine background seismic activity.
Residents who felt the shaking are encouraged to submit a “Did You Feel It?” report through the USGS website, which helps scientists refine impact assessments and improve public earthquake data.
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