Overnight 5.3 Earthquake and Aftershocks Rock California

BAKERSFIELD, CA – A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck near Bakersfield late Tuesday evening, shaking a wide area of Southern California. The quake occurred at 9:09 p.m. and was centered approximately 18 miles southwest of Bakersfield, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)​.

The earthquake was followed by a series of aftershocks, with at least a dozen recorded, including significant tremors of magnitudes 4.5 and 4.1. These aftershocks were felt in regions spanning the Los Angeles Basin, inland valleys, Santa Maria, Bakersfield, and Fresno​.

The initial quake had a depth of approximately 5.6 miles, and its impact was reported by hundreds of reside...