3.8-magnitude earthquake rattles Southern California, geologists say

A 3.8-magnitude earthquake rattled Southern California on Thursday, Dec. 1, the U.S. Geological Survey reports.

The 6.5-mile-deep quake hit about 7 miles northwest of Ocotillo at 7:28 a.m., according to the USGS.

Since the earthquake hit, 243 people from as far away as Westmorland and Campo reported feeling the tremor to the agency.

Ocotillo has a population of 215. It’s near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey says. It replaces the old Richter scale.

Quakes between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude are often felt but rarely cause much damage, according to Michigan Tech. Quakes below 2.5 magnitude are seldom felt by most people.

This story was originally published December 1, 2022 at 10:59 AM with the headline "3.8-magnitude earthquake rattles Southern California, geologists say."

Helena Wegner

McClatchy DC

Helena Wegner is a McClatchy National Real-Time Reporter covering the state of Washington and the western region. She’s a journalism graduate from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She’s based in Phoenix.