4.0 Aftershock Hits After Lull In The Swarm Of Larger Quakes

PASADENA, CA — A 4.0-magnitude aftershock struck in Ridgecrest overnight. It was the largest aftershock to the July 5 magnitude 7.1 earthquake in days, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The quake hit at 1:38 a.m. about 31.5 miles north- northwest of Ridgecrest in Kern County, according to a computer report. That is the direction where the faultline responsible for the quakes has been growing, according to seismologists. The quake struck at a depth of .6 miles. While aftershocks are still hitting by the hundreds, they had slowed down and were consistently smaller over the weekend. As more time passes without a major aftershock, experts expect to see quake activity in the Searles Valley diminish.

The magnitude 4.0 quake overnight was followed by two more - a 3.0 magnitude temblor, also at a depth of .6 mile and in the same area, at 5:25 a.m. and a 3.6 magnitude and adepth of 3.7 miles 14.8 miles east-northeast of Ridgecrest at 8:43 a.m.

City News Service contributed to this report.