February 28, 1990 Earthquake: S, Claremont, Covina, California, United States
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck S, Claremont, Covina, California, United States on February 28, 1990 at 23:43:36 UTC, 5 km below the surface.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- February 28, 1990
- Time
- 23:43:36 UTC
- Place
- S, Claremont, Covina, California, United States
- Magnitude
- 5.5 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 5 km (3 mi)
- Intensity
- 7 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 34.140° N, 117.700° W
- Country
- United States
The toll
- Injuries
- 30
- Damage
- $12.7 million
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1990, Feb 28. Thirty people received minor injuries and damage was estimated to be at least 12.7 million dollors. Some
damage (VII) at Claremont, Covina, La Verne, Montclair, Mount Baldy, Ontario, Pomona, San Dimos, Upland and Walnut. Slight damage (VI) at Arcadia, Azusa, Chino, Colton, Compton, Glendora, Lincoln Heights, Lytle Creek, Pico Rivera and West Covino. Felt from Santa Barbara to Ensenado, Mexico and northeast as far as Las Vegas, Nevada. (reference #1053)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- March 11, 1933, Long Beach, California, United States
- February 9, 1971, San Fernando, California, United States
- January 17, 1994, Northridge, California, United States
- December 8, 1812, San Juan Capistrano, California, United States
- July 21, 1952, Kern County, California, United States
- October 1, 1987, Whittier, California, United States
- December 25, 1899, California, United States
- June 28, 1992, Landers, Yucca Valley, California, United States
- June 28, 1991, Arcadia, Glendale, Los Angeles, California, United States
- August 22, 1952, Kern County, California, United States
- October 4, 1987, Whittier, Pasadena, California, United States
- April 21, 1918, San Jacinto, Hemet, California, United States
- August 31, 1930, Southern, California, United States
- July 4, 2019, Ridgecrest, Nevada, California, United States
- July 29, 2008, Los Angeles, California, United States
More
Significant earthquakes of 1990The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1990Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 5223.