Archive · 20 Jan 2026
Earthquakes Strike California and Leh
On January 19, 2026, two earthquakes happened in different places.
One was a 5.1 magnitude quake near Indio Hills in California, felt in places like Palm Desert and Big Bear.
It happened at 5:56 p.m.
Pacific Time and was 9 kilometers deep.
The other was a 5.7 magnitude quake in Leh, Ladakh, felt in nearby areas.
It happened at 11:51 am IST and was much deeper, at 171 kilometers.
Both earthquakes caused some shaking but no major damage or injuries were reported.
People in both areas searched online to find out more about the earthquakes.
A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck 8 kilometers northeast of Indio Hills, Riverside County, California, at 5:56 p.m. Pacific Time on January 19, 2026.
The California earthquake had a shallow depth of 9 kilometers, making the shaking more noticeable across wider areas.
A 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit Leh, Ladakh, at 11:51 am IST on January 19, 2026, with a depth of 171 kilometers.
Both earthquakes were felt in their respective regions but reported no major damage or injuries.
Social media saw a spike in searches related to both earthquakes, reflecting widespread concern among residents.
- Who
- Residents of Indio Hills, Coachella Valley, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Big Bear, San Bernardino County, and Leh, Ladakh
- What
- Two separate earthquakes of magnitudes 5.1 and 5.7
- When
- January 19, 2026 (California: 5:56 p.m. Pacific Time, Leh: 11:51 am IST)
- Where
- Indio Hills, Riverside County, California and Leh, Ladakh
- Why
- Natural seismic activity in the regions
California Earthquake
Leh Earthquake
Magnitude
California Earthquake
5.1 magnitude
Leh Earthquake
5.7 magnitude
Location
California Earthquake
8 kilometers northeast of Indio Hills, Riverside County, California
Leh Earthquake
Leh, Ladakh
Time
California Earthquake
1:56:14 UTC on January 20, 2026 (5:56 p.m. Pacific Time on January 19, 2026)
Leh Earthquake
11:51 am IST on January 19, 2026
Depth
California Earthquake
9 kilometers
Leh Earthquake
171 kilometers
Affected Areas
California Earthquake
Coachella Valley, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Big Bear, San Bernardino County
Leh Earthquake
Several nearby regions of Leh, Ladakh
Damage
California Earthquake
No major damage or injuries reported
Leh Earthquake
No reports of earthquake-related damage
- California Earthquake Magnitude
- 5.1
- California Earthquake Location
- 8 kilometers northeast of Indio Hills, Riverside County
- California Earthquake Time
- 1:56:14 UTC on January 20, 2026 (5:56 p.m. Pacific Time on January 19, 2026)
- California Earthquake Depth
- 9 kilometers
- California Affected Areas
- Coachella Valley, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Big Bear, San Bernardino County
- Leh Earthquake Magnitude
- 5.7
- Leh Earthquake Location
- Leh, Ladakh
- Leh Earthquake Time
- 11:51 am IST on January 19, 2026
- Leh Earthquake Depth
- 171 kilometers
- Leh Affected Areas
- Several nearby regions of Leh, Ladakh
- California Damage
- No major damage or injuries reported
- Leh Damage
- No reports of earthquake-related damage
