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Earthquake tremors hit Valley
Photo courtesy of The Guardian
Written by Andrea Lavalette - Staff Writer
On Easter Sunday, at precisely 3:40 pm, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Baja California, Mexico. According to the US Geological Survey, there was no major damage. However, two people were killed due to the disaster. The quake, centered at approximately 6.2 miles below the desert, was felt in Southern California, Las Vegas, and even in Gilbert. The rumble lasted for well over two minutes.
Gilbert resident, Kimberly Allen, said, “I was so afraid of it getting worse. I just sat there, panicking, looking at all of my rattling things and wondering if the swaying was going to make my house fall apart.” Along with the swaying of buildings, several locals reported their pool water sloshing from side to side.
After the initial 7.2 quake, aftershocks ranging from 3.0 to 5.1, struck the region for a good two hours. Morgan Page, a US Geological Survey geophysicist, stated, “This is a pretty big deal. A 7.2 doesn’t happen very often.”
Although there was no major damage, Southern California experienced minor effects. In San Luis, a border town, items at a gas station were shaken on to the floor. A pole near the parking lot was also reported as “bent” and many cars were shaken during the quake. In the Mexican city of Tijuana, the quake caused many buildings to rattle. The shaking was also felt at world famous amusement park, Disneyland, causing rides to shut down. Several elevators in the Los Angeles area were also stuck for a short time due to the earthquake.
According to geologists, the 7.2 quake is only a small look into what is in store for the future. Geologists have been studying what is called “The Big One” for several years. This quake, which is predicted to come in the next thirty years, is anticipated to hit California with tremendous force. “We know it will occur,” says seismologist, Richard Allen. “The question is simply when.”
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