A magnitude 3.8 earthquake near Ridgecrest, Kern County, California, USA, was reported only 3 minutes ago by the United States Geological Survey, considered the key international and national agency that monitors seismic activity in the US. The earthquake occurred at a very shallow depth of 1.4 miles beneath the epicenter after midnight on Sunday, August 23rd, 2026, at 12:59 am local time. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.A second report was later issued by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), which listed it as a magnitude 3.8 earthquake as well.Weak shaking might have been felt in Olancha (pop. 190) located 17 miles from the epicenter.Other towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Inyokern (pop. 1,100) located 29 miles from the epicenter, China Lake Acres (pop. 1,900) 30 miles away, Searles Valley (pop. 1,700) 32 miles away, Ridgecrest (pop. 28,800) 32 miles away, Weldon (pop. 2,600) 38 miles away, Lone Pine (pop. 2,000) 39 miles away, and Wofford Heights (pop. 2,200) 43 miles away.Earthquake data: Date & time: Aug 23, 2026 12:59 am (GMT -7) local time (23 Aug 2026 07:59 GMT)Magnitude: 3.8Depth: 2.23 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude: 36.07°N / 117.84°W (Inyo County, California, United States)Primary data source: USGS