New 6.9 earthquake hits Southern California

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 has jolted Southern California, but there are no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake hit at 8:19 p.m. Friday and was centered 11 miles from Ridgecrest, where a magnitude 6.4 quake struck on Thursday. The agency initially said the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1.

The quake was felt downtown as a rolling motion that seemed to last at least a half-minute. It was felt as far away as Las Vegas, and the USGS says it also was felt in Mexico.

If the preliminary magnitude is correct, it would be the largest Southern California quake in 20 years.

Seismologists said earlier Friday there had been 1,700 aftershocks in the wake of the strongest earthquake to hit Southern California in 20 years, but they believed the chances of another large temblor were diminishing.

A magnitude 5.4 quake at 4:07 a.m. Friday has been the strongest aftershock of Thursday’s 6.4 quake, which struck in the Mojave Desert near the town of Ridgecrest.