Although Wednesday’s earthquake caused no significant damage, its mere occurrence confirmed experts’ hypotheses: that April’s temblor placed extra pressure on the Elsinore and San Jacinto fault zones in Southern California.
These “triggered earthquakes” can occur several years after their primary shock, gradually waning in impact.
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The temblor that rolled through Southern California Wednesday was just one such instance. Reaching a magnitude of 5.4, the most significant damage were dismantled supermarket shelves in Riverside neighbor Borrego Springs, the quake’s epicenter.
A brief, yet benign rockslide was seen near the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway as well.
As seismologists note, the recent shock continues the trend of Southern California earthquakes reaching a magnitude greater than four. Referencing the region’s past, they note these aftershocks can occur over a period of 15 years.