7.1 magnitude earthquake shakes California - USGS

California has been rocked by another strong earthquake, which the United States Geological Survey (USGS) is recording as a magnitude 7.1.

The quake struck at a depth of 17km near Ridgecrest, California at 3:19pm, according to the USGS. Recordings of the magnitude have changed between 6.9 and 7.1.

USGS has received more than 13,000 reports of people feeling the shake.

There have been fires and some damage reported near Ridgecrest. Some minor injuries have also been reported. More than 2200 residents in the area are without power, according to Southern California Edison.

Ridgecrest has a population of roughly 27,000 people and is about 250km from central Los Angeles.

According to the US National Weather Service, there is no tsunami warning, advisory, watch or threat.

Dr Lucy Jones from the California Institute of Technology told reporters at a press conference said this is part of an "earthquake sequence" which will be ongoing.

"It is clearly a very energetic sequence so there is no reason to think that we can't have more large earthquakes."

One of the most anticipated NBA summer league games in the competition's history was brought to a halt by the quake.

Saturday's (NZ time) clash between highly touted number draft pick's Williamson New Orleans Pelicans and third pick RJ Barrett's Knicks was suspended after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake violently shook the Thomas and Mack Center.

The quake left the jumbotron and surrounding speaks swinging in the rafters, sending hoards of spectators among the 17,500 sold-out crowd scattering to the exits.

US President Donald Trump has been briefed on the earthquake.

Thursday's 6.4 magnitude shake
 

It comes after a massive 6.4 magnitude quake on Thursday (local time), which was reported as the strongest in the region in more than 20 years. 

That quake struck in the Monjave Desert's Searles Valley, which is near Ridgecrest. It is now being considered a foreshock to Saturday's shake.

Only a few injuries were reported in Thursday's quake, but two houses caught fire from broken gas pipes, according to officials.

Water gushed out of zigzagged cracks in the pavement from ruptured water lines and deep fissures snaked across the Mojave Desert, with people stopping to take selfies while standing in the rendered earth.

The quake sent 30 residents of the desert community of 28,000 to emergency shelters, knocked some houses off their foundations and left many homeowners wondering if their insurance would cover the damage, Ridgecrest Mayor Peggy Breeden said.

"The most important thing is that we have not had any loss of life or any major personal damage to people," Breeden told CNN on Friday.

Breeden said officials were still assessing the extent of the damage, but added that emergency state and federal aid would enable the city's overwhelmed agencies to start the cleanup without worrying about their budgets.

Newshub.