Magnitude 0.68 Earthquake Struck 12 km ESE of Anza, CA on November 30, 2024 10:48:42

Last Updated: 2024-11-30 15:32:59

On November 30, 2024 10:48:42 an earthquake with magnitude of 0.68 on the richter scale hit 12 km ESE of Anza, CA. The earthquake originated at a depth of approximately 11.29 kilometers below the Earth's surface on longitude -116.550° and latitude 33.511°. According to documented reports people felt the earth quake, No tsunami was triggered due to the earthquake.

Magnitude & Depth

The earthquake that appeared on November 30, 2024 10:48:42 had a magnitude of 0.68 on the richter scale.

Shallow earthquakes are considered between 0 and 70 km deep, while intermediate earthquakes range from 70 - 300 km deep and deep earthquakes are between 300 - 700 km deep.

Are shallow earthquakes more destructive?

Shallow quakes generally tend to be more damaging than deeper quakes. Seismic waves from deep quakes have to travel farther to the surface, losing energy along the way.

Nearby Cities and Towns

The nearest significant population center is Anza in California, United States, located 12 kilometers or 7 miles ← W of the earthquake's epicenter. Other cities in close proximity include La Quinta (California, United States) located 27 km (17 mi) ↗ NE and Palm Desert (California, United States) located 28 km (17 mi) ↑ N of the epicenter.

In total, we found 43 cities in our database that might have been impacted by the earthquake.

Nearby Power Plants

We found a total 66 utility-scale power plants in the vecinity of the earthquakes epicenter. The closest being SunAnza Solar power plant, located 9 kilometers (5 miles) ← W from the epicenter.

Power Plants & Risks During Earthquakes

We found 7 types of power plants in the vecinity of the magnitude 0.68 earthquake that struck 12 km ESE of Anza, CA on November 30, 2024 10:48:42. These types were Waste power plants, Wind power plants, Solar power plants, Geothermal power plants, Storage power plants, Oil power plants, Gas power plants, below you find information how each type of power plant can pose a risk to you as a person or the ecosytem around you.

None of this information should be used as guidence in an event of an emergency, but rather as additional references to information provided by national, state and local authorities.

Gas Power

Gas power plants can pose significant risks to people and the environment in their vicinity during earthquakes.

Gas Leaks and Fires

Gas power plants rely on natural gas, which can leak from pipelines and equipment when damaged by seismic activity. These leaks can lead to fires and explosions, endangering people in the plant's vicinity.

Impact on Air Quality

Gas power plants emit pollutants, and fires caused by gas leaks during an earthquake can release harmful substances into the air. This can pose health risks to nearby residents.

Environmental Impact

Gas leaks can also harm the local environment, potentially contaminating soil and water sources.

To mitigate these risks, most modern gas power plants have robust safety measures in place, including gas leak detection systems, emergency response plans, and communication protocols to alert nearby communities in case of an incident. Additionally, local authorities should conduct risk assessments and ensure that emergency services are well-prepared to respond to potential hazards posed by gas power plants during earthquakes.

Solar Power

Solar power plants generally pose fewer risks compared to conventional power plants that use fossil fuels or nuclear energy. However, they are not without their own set of potential risks and challenges. Below you can find some of the risks associated with solar power plants in an event of a severe earthquake.

Environmental Impact

The production of solar panels involves the use of various materials, including rare metals and chemicals. Severe earthquakes could potentially introduce these into the ecosystems of their location.

Fire Risk

Although the solar panels themselves are not typically a fire hazard, electrical components like inverters and batterises that store the electricity can pose a risk. Electrical malfunctions or faults can lead to fires, especially in poorly maintained systems in an event of a severe earthquake, and thus pose a longterm risk for the local ecosystem.

Overall, the mitigation of risks associated with utility-scale solar power plants involves a combination of technological advancements, sustainable practices, regulatory adherence, and ongoing monitoring and maintenance.

Wind Power

In the event of a severe earthquake, wind power plants typically pose lower risks to people and ecosystems compared to some other types of power generation, such as nuclear or fossil fuel power plants. Below you'll find potential risks to still consider.

Turbine Collapse

The most significant risk to people is the potential collapse of wind turbine towers during a severe earthquake. If a wind turbine were to collapse, it could cause injury or loss of life to anyone in the vicinity.

Wildlife Impact

Wind turbines can pose a risk to local wildlife. In the event of an earthquake, there could be concerns about the displacement or injury of wildlife in the vicinity of the turbines or wild fires resulting from internal malfunction of turbines.

While wind power plants do have risks associated with earthquakes, they are generally considered to be a lower-risk energy source in terms of environmental and safety concerns when compared to certain other forms of power generation. Proper planning, engineering, and maintenance practices help mitigate these risks and ensure the safe operation of wind power plants during earthquakes.

Oil Power

Oil-fired power plants can pose significant risks to society, people, and ecosystems in the event of a severe earthquake.

Oil Spills & Fires

One of the most immediate dangers is the risk of oil spills and fires. The shaking during an earthquake can rupture storage tanks and pipelines, leading to the release of large quantities of oil. Spilled oil can catch fire, causing explosions and further environmental damage.

Air Quality Polution

Oil fires and releases can result in the release of toxic fumes and particulate matter into the air. This can lead to poor air quality, posing health risks to nearby communities. People exposed to these pollutants may experience respiratory issues and other health problems.

Water Pollution

Spilled oil can contaminate nearby water bodies, including rivers, lakes, and groundwater. This can harm aquatic ecosystems, killing fish and other wildlife, and disrupting the food chain. Drinking water supplies may also be compromised, impacting human health.

Soil Contamination

Oil spills can saturate the soil, making it less fertile and potentially rendering it unusable for agriculture. Soil contamination can persist for years, affecting local food production.

Long-Term Environmental Damage

The environmental damage caused by oil spills and fires can persist long after the earthquake event. Cleanup efforts can be costly and challenging, and ecosystems may take years or even decades to recover fully.

To mitigate these risks, most modern oil-fired power plants follow strict regulations, safety measures, and extensive emergency response plans are in place for oil power plants located in seismically active regions. This includes robust containment systems, automatic shutdown mechanisms, and well-trained response teams.

Geothermal Power

Geothermal power plants, which harness the Earth's internal heat for electricity generation, can pose certain risks during earthquakes, but they are generally considered to be low-risk when compared to other types of power plants such as nuclear facilities.

Surface Instability

Severe ground shaking during an earthquake can cause surface instability, potentially leading to landslides, subsidence, or ground rupture near the geothermal power plant. This may affect infrastructure, access roads, and nearby ecosystems.

Release of Harmful Gases

Utility-scale geothermal reservoirs may contain naturally occurring gases, including hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Seismic activity could potentially release these gases into the atmosphere, posing health risks to nearby communities if not properly managed.

Damage to Wells and Piping

Geothermal power plants rely on wells and piping systems to extract hot water or steam from the Earth's crust. Earthquake-induced ground movement can damage or rupture these wells and pipelines, disrupting the power generation process.

The geothermal power industry places a strong emphasis on safety and works closely with regulatory authorities to ensure that geothermal energy is generated with minimal risk to people and the environment, especially in earthquake-prone regions of the world.

Data Information

Information found on this page is a derivative set, based on sources mentioned below.

Data Sources

We aggregate and combine data from USGS (United States Geographical Survey) and the EMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre). This allow us to get near real-time and historical earthquake data dating back to the year 1950.

Disclaimer

Information or data found on this page should not be used for, or as an early warning system. It is intended as an historical reference or near real-time complementary information to offical and governmental sources. In an event of an emergency it is important closely monitor and follow advice from national, state and local authorities.