Aftershocks continue in California desert

TRONA, Calif.  – Aftershocks of last week’s big earthquakes are still rumbling beneath the California desert, but seismologists say the probability of large quakes continues to decline.

National Guard members distribute free ice to residents in Trona, Calif., on Tuesday July 9, 2019. Charities and governmental agencies ramped up recovery efforts in the small town ravaged by earthquakes and aftershocks. It could be several more days before water service is restored to the tiny town of Trona, where officials trucked in portable toilets and showers. (James Quigg/The Daily Press via AP

The U.S. Geological Survey says the chance of a quake larger than Friday’s 7.1 temblor is less than 1% and the chance of a magnitude 6 or higher is down to 6%.

Residents of the little community of Trona gathered at a town hall Wednesday to hear officials give updates on the recovery.

KCBS-TV reports the most common concern expressed by residents is the lack of running water.

Truckloads of drinking water have been delivered. But there’s no water for household uses, including supplying swamp coolers, a necessity in the triple-digit desert heat. /gsg