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This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

KPCC Archive

4.8 Central Valley earthquake is California's biggest in more than a year

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A 4.8-magnitude earthquake shook just after 4 p.m. Tuesday about 22 miles outside of Bakersfield, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake is the biggest earthquake in California in more than a year, according to the USGS. Lucy Jones, a USGS seismologist, told KPCC that Tuesday's earthquake is the biggest shake the state has had since 2014's 5.1 in La Habra and the 6.0 Napa earthquake. There was also a 5.7 earthquake offshore in January 2015, and a 4.8 that came close just a week ago (it was a 4.77, while this was a 4.84).

"All of California is earthquake country, this is a relatively less common site down under the basin — but we have seen earthquakes here before," Jones said.  

The earthquake was reportedly 13 miles deep, which is why it was felt as far away as the Los Angeles area, Jones said. According to KPCC's earthquake tracker, 280 people have reported they felt the quake.

There were no injuries or damages reported, Kern County Fire Department spokesperson James Dowell told KPCC.

A map from the USGS shows locations of where people felt the shake, and how big of an impact the shake had.

To tell USGS what you felt, fill out the "Did you feel it" report on the agency's website.

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