(Photo: Techtimes)

A 4.9 magnitude earthquake hits near Anza, California and has rattled parts of California on Friday night according to a recently published article.

U.S. Geological Survey has reported that an earthquake occurred at around 6:53 pm about 11 miles southeast of Anza. The epicenter was near the Santa Rosa Mountain and Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians Reservation.  

According to the USGS that it was followed by seven other earthquakes that ranged between magnitudes 2.5 to 3.7 over 15 minutes. The quake was felt strongly in Palm Springs as it shook homes and communities. 

Riverside County Officials released a statement through their official Twitter account confirming that the 4.9 magnitude and series of earthquakes up to 9:07 in the evening did not cause damage based on the initial report. 

However, many were shocked and astounded by the gravity of the earthquake despite the official statement of the county officials. Many also worried because amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, here comes another natural calamity.

Debra Hovel, one of the residents in Palm Springs who is a co-founder of Makerville, said: "We just never feel quakes at Makerville. Sitting (at) our dining room table in the studio, we watched as paintings fell to the floor and we wondered if a bomb had fallen. Happily, it all ended quickly." 

Another resident in the area described it as the biggest jolts he experienced in his nine years of staying in the Palm Springs according to a recently published article.

USGS also confirmed that just minutes after the initial temblor, a magnitude 2.5 quake was recorded in Bombay Beach on the shore of the Salton Sea. Uwe Martin of Bombay Beach said: "Sounded as if someone rolled around in our attic."

A California-based seismologist Lucy Jones shared on her Twitter account that the quake in Anza was perhaps near on the San Jacinto fault. The fault spans more than 120 miles and covers different communities such as San Bernardino, Hemet, Anza and Borrego Springs.

In her Twitter account, she wrote: "The San Jacinto near Anza has had many M~5 quakes over the last few decades. An M4.9 can only affect an area a few miles across. But the San Jacinto fault itself is capable of major M≥7 quakes and the chance of a quake on the San Jacinto is now increased. The chance of a quake of M≥6 is less than 1%."

The seismologist also clarified that there is nothing to worry about or if the tremblor will trigger the San Andreas fault. Meanwhile, there were also various reports about the quake in the different locations in San Diego according to a published article.

For Dr. Pat Abbott, a geologist, he said that "this is a very common area for earthquakes in Southern California. Just another day in Southern California."

The San Diego Police Department also confirmed that there were no recorded damages nor injuries in the series of earthquakes that occurred on Friday night. However, people living in the area should prepare themselves most especially since an earthquake could happen at any time. 

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