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Ridgecrest Earthquakes Leave Naval Air Weapons Station 'Not Mission Capable'

RIDGECREST (CBSLA) — Multiple earthquakes that struck the Ridgecrest area left Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake "not mission capable until further notice," the base announced Saturday.

In a Facebook post, officials said Rear Admiral Bette Bolivar issued an evacuation order for non-essential active duty, drilling reservists, civilian employees, and dependents to evacuate to a radius of 100 miles from Naval Base Ventura County.

Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake is responding to a 5.0 magnitude earthquake at 8:16 p.m., and a 7.1 magnitude...

Posted by Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake on Saturday, July 6, 2019

NAWS China Lake remained accessible to mission essential personnel only.

The alert came hours after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake rattled the Ridgecrest area on Friday.

A 6.4-magnitude quake shook the same area the day prior, followed by hundreds of aftershocks.

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