3rd Quake Swarm Shakes Region
The second volcano hazards watch in the last six days was declared by the U.S. Geological Survey on Tuesday in the Mammoth Lakes area after a swarm of 60 earthquakes struck in a three-hour period.
The swarm of small quakes was the third in the last week and was the closest yet to Mammoth Lakes, centered just west of the U.S. 395-California 203 junction, three miles east of the town.
Bill Ellsworth of the Geological Survey said a Level D notice was issued, the fourth of five stages, with the highest--Level A--indicating that an eruption is expected in hours to days. The Level D calls for a higher level of awareness, but no eruption is expected.
The strongest of Tuesday’s quakes in the area measured only magnitude 3.0 and 15 others of an overall total of 120 measured in the barely noticeable 2 magnitude range. Since the epicenters were close to town, however, some were felt by Mammoth residents.
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