A 5.5-magnitude earthquake hit 17 km south of Searles Valley in the U.S. state of California at 0132 GMT on Thursday, with the epicenter recorded at a depth of 7.1 km, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. 

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The quake occurred in a sparsely populated area near the Mojave Desert community of Searles Valley.

(Cover photo: Screenshot of website of USGS website)