Earthquake Information
Chronological Earthquake Index
1954 San Jacinto Fault Earthquake
TYPE OF FAULTING: right-lateral strike-slip
TIME: March 19, 1954 / 1:54 am, PST
LOCATION: 33° 17' N, 116° 11' W 24 km (15 miles) west of Salton City about 48 km (30 miles) south of Indio
MAGNITUDE: MW6.4
FAULT INVOLVED: Clark Fault, San Jacinto fault zone
The 1954 San Jacinto fault earthquake, sometimes referred to as the Arroyo Salada earthquake, caused minor damage over a wide area of southern California, cracking plaster walls as far away as San Diego, and knocking plaster from the ceiling at the Los Angeles City Hall. In Palm Springs, a water pipe was broken, and the walls of several swimming pools were cracked. Part of San Bernadino experienced a temporary blackout when power lines snapped in the shaking. Indio and Coachella also experienced minor damage. The shock was felt as far away as Ventura County, Baja California, and Las Vegas, but not in the Bakersfield/Tehachapi area, where residents were still dealing with the aftermath of the 1952 Kern County earthquake, the aftershocks of which continued well into 1954.
