Community Corner

Magnitude 4.4 Earthquake Rocks Southern California

"It felt like somebody ran into our building," said Sgt. Chris Hice of the Rialto Police Department.

Southern California was hit today by a magnitude-4.4 earthquake whose epicenter was in San Bernardino County.

The quake struck at 1:35 a.m. at a depth of just over 3 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter was 3 miles north-northwest of Fontana and 4 miles west-northwest of Rialto, said USGS seismologist Valerie Thomas.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damages, but the temblor was felt, with one police officer comparing it to the impact of a car crash.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"It felt like somebody ran into our building," said Sgt. Chris Hice of the Rialto Police Department.

Hice said the only report of damage in the city 25 minutes after the earthquake was of some broken glass at a school.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In Fontana, Police Department Dispatch Supervisor Amy Blessinger described the impact as "a pretty good jolt." She said there had been calls to police confirming the earthquake, but no reports of damage.

The Fontana watch commander, Sgt. Brian Heaviside, was on patrol in a vehicle when the quake hit.

"I barely felt it," Heaviside said.

Heaviside then asked for the magnitude and location of the earthquake epicenter.

"4.4?" he said. "That's a decent jolt."

No damage was reported along the northwestern corner of Riverside County, the area of the county closest to the epicenter, authorities said.

Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy Armando Munoz said Eastvale, Norco and Jurupa Valley reported no impact from the earthquake. --City News Service



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