Ridgecrest, CA – Residents across parts of the Mojave Desert felt light shaking Sunday after a small earthquake swarm struck west of Johannesburg, near Ridgecrest and the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, according to seismologists.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey and the California Integrated Seismic Network, at least three earthquakes were recorded in close succession on Sunday afternoon, January 18. The strongest was a magnitude 3.6 quake, followed by magnitude 3.1 and 2.9 events, all occurring within roughly two hours.
The earthquakes were centered 14–15 kilometers west to west-southwest of Johannesburg, with shallow depths between 3.5 and 4.4 kilometers, a factor that can make even smaller quakes more noticeable at the surface. Community reports submitted to the USGS indicated weak to light shaking, particularly in Ridgecrest, China Lake, and surrounding desert communities.
No injuries or damage were immediately reported. Officials at nearby installations, including China Lake, did not announce disruptions.
Seismologists describe this type of activity as an earthquake swarm, a sequence of quakes clustered in time and location without a clearly defined mainshock. Swarms are not uncommon in eastern California, especially along fault systems connected to the Eastern California Shear Zone, which also produced the powerful 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes.
Experts emphasize that small swarms do not necessarily indicate a larger earthquake is imminent, though aftershocks or additional minor quakes remain possible in the coming days. Residents are encouraged to review earthquake preparedness plans and report shaking through the USGS “Did You Feel It?” system.
Southern California regularly experiences thousands of small earthquakes each year, many too weak to be felt.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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