USGS says quake reported in Kern County actually struck somewhere else
Oct 25, 2024
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct details of the incident.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — An earthquake initially reported to have struck in Kern County early Friday morning, actually struck in an area north near the California-Nevada border in Death Valley.
The quake was first reported at around 1:05 a.m. Friday. An automated message from the US Geological Survey reported seismic activity in an area in eastern Kern County about 14 miles east of Johannesburg.
The USGS issued an update hours later that the magnitude 4.7 earthquake happened in an area around 4 miles east of Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley.
The USGS’ message in an update noted: “This deleted event was a false detection caused by the erroneous association of phases from a true event near Stovepipe Wells, CA”
The quake was felt in areas like Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada and along the California-Nevada state line.
The USGS received some reports of shaking from the quake reported by residents in Ridgecrest and Tulare County.