RIDGECREST, Calif. — The city of Ridgecrest, California, and surrounding areas are in chaos after being hit by a 7.1 earthquake. The tremblor centered along a fault line that Lucy Jones with the United States Geological Survey is now extending through the high desert community toward the northwest. This earthquake comes just one day after a 6.4-magnitude quake on Thursday. There have been more than 200 reported quakes in the Eastern Kern County area and Searles Valley.
Friday night's 7.1-magnitude earthquake that hit the small town of Ridgecrest was larger than the initial 6.4-magnitude earthquake felt on the nation's holiday. Pat Turner's family, who lives in Ridgecrest, was near the epicenter of both.
"It felt like I was going to tip over in it, and there's smoke stacks and I thought 'oh my God, dude I'm going to die,' " Turner said.
His 10-year-old son, Jayden Turner, described the moment.
"At first it went really small," Jayden said. "Then I'm like 'OK I think that's it.' Then a big one shocked and I'm like 'oh my gosh.' "
Officials reported that 1,800 customers are now without power. Meanwhile, a laundromat that was already damaged by the 6.4-magnitude foreshock when the new tremors begin suffered even more damage when the roof collapsed.
Valerie Abdullatif felt those shocks all the way in San Diego.
"I was studying in my apartment and I realized there was a little bit of shaking," Abdullatif said. "And I knew there was an earthquake prior, so I called home to see if everyone was OK."
The college student's family owns the Eastridge Market Liquor Store and had just cleaned up the aftermath of the initial quake. She jumped in her car and made the drive to Ridgecrest.
"All the retail is gone, but we're all together and we're all helping and supporting each other," she said. "I think that's what family is about."
This story was originally published by Josh Sanders on KERO .
