April 23, 1992 Earthquake: Joshua Tree, Angelus Oaks, California, United States
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Joshua Tree, Angelus Oaks, California, United States on April 23, 1992 at 04:50:23 UTC, 12 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
- April 23, 1992
- Time
- 04:50:23 UTC
- Place
- Joshua Tree, Angelus Oaks, California, United States
- Magnitude
- 6.3 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 12 km (7 mi)
- Intensity
- 7 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 33.961° N, 116.318° W
- Country
- United States
The toll
- Injuries
- 32
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 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.
1992, April 23. Thirty-two people were treated for minor Injuries. Light to moderate damage (VII) at Joshua Tree and (VI) at Angelus Oaks, Banning, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, Indio, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Pioneertown, Rancho Mirage,
Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley. Felt strongly in many ports of southern California. Felt from San Diego, California to Las Vegas, Nevada and from Santa Barbara, California to Yuma, Arizona. Also felt at Phoenix, Arizona and in Baja California, Mexico. (reference #1053)
1992, April 23. $100 million damage. (Reference #1250)
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
- December 8, 1812, San Juan Capistrano, California, United States
- May 19, 1940, California, Mexico, United States
- October 1, 1987, Whittier, California, United States
- December 25, 1899, California, United States
- June 23, 1915, El Centro, California, United States
- June 28, 1992, Landers, Yucca Valley, California, United States
- November 24, 1987, Superstition Hills, California, United States
- June 28, 1991, Arcadia, Glendale, Los Angeles, California, United States
- April 21, 1918, San Jacinto, Hemet, California, United States
- October 4, 1987, Whittier, Pasadena, California, United States
- January 1, 1927, California, Mexico, United States
- July 8, 1986, Palm Springs, California, United States
- June 28, 1992, Big Bear Lake, Big Bear City, California, United States
More
Significant earthquakes of 1992The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1992Recent 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 5320.