Powerful Eartquake

A powerful earthquake jolted Southern California,

touching off fires, damaging buildings

and forcing the evacuation of a hospital in a desert town,

but there were only minor injuries.

The 6.4 magnitude quake, the most powerful in Southern California in 25 years,

The 6.4 magnitude quake struck about 113 miles (182 km) northeast of Los Angeles

The epicenter was on the edge of Death Valley National Park.

Fire Department was dealing with "multiple injuries" that

it described as minor, two house fires, small brush fires, and gas leaks.

Governor approved an emergency proclamation, and

Ridgecrest Mayor has declared a state of emergency,

a step that enables the town to receive help from outside agencies.

Hospital was being evacuated and

patients were being moved to other locations for fear of a powerful aftershock.

Although no injuries had been reported,

she has asked residents to check on their neighbors in the high desert town,

which has a population of about 28,000.

"We're a close-knit community and

everybody is working to take care of each other,".

The quake is the largest in Southern California since the 1994 magnitude 6.6 Northridge earthquake.

That quake killed 57 people and

That quake caused billions of dollars of damage.

more than 80 aftershocks had hit the area in the hours since the initial quake.

"I think the chance of having a magnitude 5...is probably greater than 50-50," she said.

The quake was very shallow, (dangkal)

only 6.7 miles (10.7 km), amplifying its effect, and

was felt in an area inhabited by 20 million people.

The shaking expelled water from swimming pools throughout the region.

he was lying in bed at his hotel room when he felt rumbling.

"I thought, wow, this is really weird.

Am I going crazy?"

 'Am I out of my mind?

Why am I feeling like this?'"

there was a line of 20 cars waiting to fill their tanks.

"I mopped up over 20 gallons (76 liters) of wine that fell over in addition to the beer, soda and the cooler that fell over. We have several thousand dollars worth of damage," Wilhorn said.

Some 5,851 customers were without power in Kern County, according to poweroutage.