Earthquake Update: There have been 100's if not 1000's of aftershocks this morning from the 7.0 quake, many have been 5.0 and larger. Few injuries and no deaths are reported because of the remote area of the Mojave Desert. As the day progresses much more damage is being located, in the way of cracked bridges and buildings that are no longer safe.

Earthquake Update: USGS first reported this quake as a Magnitude: 7.3, it has now been downgraded to a 7.0.

Magnitude: 7.0, determined using its moment Epicenter: 34.60N, 116.27W () Depth of focus: 6.0km below sea level at the epicenter.

Strong earthquake hits California...10/16/99

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- A strong earthquake centered 100 miles east of Los Angeles rattled windows and buildings in the Southwest early Saturday. The quake could be felt in San Diego and Las Vegas. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Early reports put the magnitude of the quake at 7.0, according to California Institute of Technology researchers. "We know the quake was about magnitude 7.0, and we know the epicenter was located 32 miles north of Joshua Tree which would put it in the Mojave Desert area in Southern California," CalTech's Kate Hutton told CNN. Jacob Naylor, night manager at the Joshua Tree Inn, said the establishment lost power, but there was no sign of damage. "Twelve guests, all definitely awake. A couple in from Holland, definitely shocked. A couple in from the U.K. asked me, `Is this normal?"' Naylor said. Hutton said there were lots of aftershocks.

Though a quake that size is capable of doing widespread damage, there were no immediate reports of injuries. "It was an immensely jolting, rolling -- very loud. You could hear the beams in the building moving," said Evette Zeitlow, in Palm Springs, California, about 30 miles southwest Joshua Tree. "Bottles and jars and containers were flying about," Zeitlow said. "I have two little dogs here with me, they began to howl. It was really ... it was quite unnerving." But Zeitlow said she did not see any damage. "The lights on in the city, as much as I can see," she said. Quake felt in Las Vegas In Los Angeles, police said there were no reports of serious damage or injuries in the city. Telephone service in the region was spotty. "That was a bad one.

Things are bouncing around all over. But we are all right. I have to go and call the kids," Lucille Manning said from her home in Chino, east of downtown Los Angeles. The quake was felt as far away as Las Vegas, 275 miles east of Los Angeles, where tourists staying on The Strip said they felt were rattled out of bed. "I wasn't sure what it was," said John Fabian, who was staying on the 18th floor of the Mirage Hotel. "My wife hit me and said we've got to get ...out of here." Fabian's wife, Michele, added: "The whole place was shaking like crazy."