3 Small Aftershocks Rattle Redlands Area

Three small aftershocks of the destructive June earthquakes jolted the Redlands area of San Bernardino County during the weekend, rattling nerves but causing no damage, authorities and residents said.

The aftershocks, all of which hit within 16 hours, were just normal activity, said Steve Bryant, spokesman for Caltech in Pasadena.

Joann Richter, whose Loma Linda mobile home was close to the area of earthquake activity, said she felt “a big jolt. The Earth felt like Jell-O underneath.”

But Cpl. Robert Yzquierdo, watch commander for the Redlands Police Department, said he felt nothing at the town police station. “Somebody did tell me we had an earthquake. I said: ‘What earthquake?’ ”

The first quake hit about 11:55 p.m. Saturday and measured 3.1. The second, at 10:51 a.m. Sunday, registered 3.4. The third hit at 3:16 p.m. Sunday and was measured at magnitude 3.2. All were centered about two miles south-southwest of Redlands.

Bryant said all three were aftershocks of the June 28 magnitude 7.5 Landers earthquake and 6.6 Big Bear tremor. Since then, thousands of small aftershocks have jiggled Southern California, most in thinly populated desert areas.