The US state of California was jolted by two major earthquakes last week of magnitude 6.4 and 7.1, causing spontaneous fires and damage across the southern part of the state. Shaken residents were caught of guard as two of the biggest earthquakes to rattle California in decades led to scientists warning both should serve as a wake-up call to be ready when the long-dreaded “Big One” strikes. The state has since experience a range of aftershocks.
Kern County Fire Department spokesman Andrew Freeborn said on Sunday: “Any time that we can go through a 7-point earthquake and we do not report a fatality, a major injury, do not suffer structure damage that was significant.
“I want to say that that was a blessing and a miracle.”
In the aftermath of the massive quakes, California has continued to shake as a series of aftershocks continue to devastate the state.
Just today, on July 8, more than 35 small quakes have occurred in California, with aftershocks varies from magnitude-2.5 to 3.8.
READ MORE: California earthquake: Will the Big One erupt along San Andreas fault?
The biggest one to hit the US state was recorded at 1.36am UTC, 6.2 miles (10km) northeast of Coos Junction, California.
Meanwhile, Indonesia was rocked by a magnitude 6.9 on Sunday, located 82.6 miles (133km) from Ternate City on the island of North Maluku.
More than 200,000 terrified people fled to higher ground, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning.
READ MORE: Indonesia earthquake: 7.1 magnitude quake hits Indonesia
The tsunami warning has since been lifted and there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
Meteorological, Geophysical and Climatological Agency (BMKG) said: “The tsunami early warning has ended.”
Yusuf Latif, a spokesman for the search and rescue agency said: “The quake was felt quite strongly and with an intensity that lasted quite long.”
Sunday’s quake was followed by magnitude-5.5 temblor on Monday, striking 80 miles (129km) south-southwest of Kota Ternate.
Indonesia isn’t the only Asian nation to be rocked by earthquakes today, as a massive magnitude-5.7 quake struck the Iranian city of Masjed Soleyman this Monday.
The temblor struck 17.3 miles (28km) from the city of more than 200,000 residents.
The town is the place of the first explored oil in Iran and the Middle East.
There have been no reports on deaths or injuries so far.