Magnitude 5.2 earthquake strikes near Bakersfield, rattles Southern California

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake about 18 miles southwest of Bakersfield was felt across a wide swath of Southern California on Tuesday night.

The earthquake, originally estimated to be magnitude 5.3, struck at 9:09 p.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was followed by at least a dozen aftershocks of magnitude 2.5 and up, including magnitude 4.5 and 4.1 earthquakes.

There were no immediate reports of damage.

The USGS said the quake was felt across the Los Angeles Basin, inland valleys, as well as in Santa Maria, Bakersfield and Fresno.

It occurred 13 miles from Lamont, Calif., 14 miles from Arvin, 19 miles from Rosedale and 22 miles from Oildale.

In the last 10 days, there have been no earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.

An average of five earthquakes with magnitudes of 5.0 to 6.0 occur per year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three-year data sample.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 5.6 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.

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This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.