RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A trio of small earthquakes rattled parts of Southern California early Sunday, with the strongest—magnitude 3.5—striking near Big Bear City just before 4 a.m. local time. Two additional tremors, both magnitude 2.6, occurred near Cabazon and Ocotillo Wells within minutes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and the California Integrated Seismic Network.
The 3.5-magnitude quake hit about seven kilometers north of Big Bear City at a depth of roughly 6 kilometers, sending light shaking through the San Bernardino Mountains and high desert. According to the USGS “Did You Feel It?” map, weak shaking was reported in Big Bear Lake and Lucerne Valley, but no damage or injuries have been confirmed.
Roughly ten minutes earlier, a 2.6 quake occurred 10 kilometers north-northeast of Cabazon, followed by another 2.6 about 20 kilometers southwest of Ocotillo Wells, near the Imperial–San Diego County line. According to Caltech seismologists, these shallow quakes are typical for the region and unrelated to any major fault rupture.
Emergency officials urge residents to review their earthquake safety plans and keep emergency kits updated as aftershocks may follow. Motorists on I-10 and Highway 18 are advised to stay alert for possible loose debris in mountain areas after minor ground shaking.
No alerts were issued by the California Office of Emergency Services, but experts remind residents that the region’s active faults can produce sudden, stronger events at any time.
