Update: Earthquake of 3.4 magnitude detected close to Loma Linda, CA on April 29

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CA - A preliminary 3.4 magnitude quake occurred close to Loma Linda on Wednesday evening, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The tremor shook at 8:48 p.m., with its epicenter roughly 2 miles southeast of Loma Linda and a depth of 10 miles.

Did you feel it?

If you experienced the earthquake, you can report it through the USGS Felt Report form. The agency has so far received 326 reports via its online form from people who report they felt weak shaking. Residents in a number of cities - including Palm Springs, Lake Elsinore, Sun City and Hemet - reported experiencing the quake, according to the USGS DYFI report.

Did you capture the effect?

Help us tell the story - share your images showing how the earthquake affected your area at sacbee.com/customer-service/submit-photo.

Earthquakes past week

Last week, four tremors of magnitude 2.5 or above have been registered in the area. The biggest, a 3.4 magnitude quake, struck close to Cabazon on Apr. 26.

The four largest earthquakes nearby in the last week:

• 3.4, north-northeast of Cabazon on April 26
• 3.3, south-southwest of Redlands on April 27
• 3.0, north of Cabazon on April 29
• 2.6, south-southwest of Redlands on April 28

What to know about earthquakes

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. Earthquakes below 2.5 magnitude are seldom felt by most people.

Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. They can happen anywhere, but are most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. 100,000 of those can be felt, and 100 of them cause damage.

What to do during an earthquake

If an earthquake strikes, it's best to protect yourself right away. Here are tips from experts:

If you're in a car: Pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.

If you're in bed: Turn face-down and cover your head with a pillow.

If you're outdoors: Stay away from buildings. Don't go inside.

If you're inside: Stay and don't run outdoors. Stay away from doorways.

The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say. "Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy," officials say. "If you're using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops." Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows. Once under a table, officials say you should hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it.

"There can be serious hazards after an earthquake, such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines," officials say. "Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock."

Source: The U.S. Geological Survey

This article was generated by the CA Earthquake Bot, software that analyzes structured information, such as data, and applies it to articles based on templates created by journalists in the newsroom. No human journalist was harmed in this experiment. You can report errors or bugs to mcclatchybot@mcclatchy.com.

This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 8:53 PM.