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Magnitude-4.4 earthquake rattles central California

The USGS website recorded hits from many people in both regions who reported feeling the jolts and characterized them as "weak" or "light." Both areas also had smaller aftershocks.
The USGS website recorded hits from many people in both regions who reported feeling the jolts and characterized them as "weak" or "light." Both areas also had smaller aftershocks. Getty Images

COSO JUNCTION, Calif. – A magnitude-4.4 earthquake has struck a rural area in central California.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the earthquake struck at 7:11 p.m. about 54 kilometres south of the community of Lone Pine, near the south end of Sequoia National Forest.

It hit at a depth of about 160 metres.

READ MORE: Earthquake that rattled Northern California coast downgraded to magnitude-6.8

USGS geophysicist Dale Grant says the quake was shallow enough to have caused damage if it were larger or in a more populated area.

But he didn’t expect any damage, and authorities in Inyo County said there have been no reports of it or of injuries. Several dozen people reported feeling the earthquake on the USGS website.

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The quake was followed soon after by several small aftershocks, including a magnitude-3.0 temblor about 25 minutes later.

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