LOS ANGELES, July 6 (Xinhua) -- The multiple earthquakes that struck Southern California left U.S. Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake "not mission capable", the base announced on Saturday.
Safety of personnel is currently the highest priority, said the base in its Facebook post. "Non essential active duty, drilling reservists, civilian employees, and dependents are authorized to evacuate to a radius of 100 miles from safe haven Naval Base Ventura County."
Commander Navy Region Southwest Bette Bolivar issued this evacuation order. Naval Base Ventura County and its surrounding area is the preferred location for authorized evacuation on the basis of Installation Support Services, according to the post.
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake is responding to a 5.0 magnitude earthquake at 8:16 p.m., and a 7.1 magnitude earthquake at 8:19 p.m Pacific Time and multiple, consistent aftershocks on July 5 following a 6.4 magnitude earthquake and numerous aftershocks on July 4, said the post.
Though the base is not mission capable until further notice, security protocols remain in effect, the base said.
Those with questions can call the base's family information hotline at 1-844-523-2025, according to the post.
Friday's 7.1 magnitude earthquake, centering near Ridgecrest, a city in Kern County which is located 272 km north of Los Angeles downtown, is the largest Southern California quake in at least 20 years and was followed by a series of large and small aftershocks.
It came only one day after the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the region on Thursday morning.
