a Magnitude 4.4 An earthquake struck eastern Mendocino County Tuesday afternoon, shaking the countryside southeast of Willits, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The earthquake occurred at 1:10 p.m. local time and was centered about 9 miles east-southeast of Willits, the agency said. The impact was just under 5 miles deep, a level that could cause significant shaking near the surface.

Preliminary USGS data indicates mild to moderate shaking in the area. The initial tremor was followed by two smaller earthquakes, each less than magnitude 2.0.

Approximately 90 minutes later, an even stronger aftershock occurred, becoming even larger. 3.8 earthquake The crash occurred about 11 miles east-southeast of Willits, the USGS said.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The epicenter was in a rugged, sparsely populated area northeast of Ukiah, and earthquakes of this magnitude are not uncommon.

The fault that caused the quake was not immediately known. However, the Willits area is located near the Maacama Fault. The Maacama Fault is a long fault that runs through the interior of California, east of and parallel to the San Andreas River.

This article was first published Magnitude 4.4 earthquake shakes Northern California.