LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- A moderately strong earthquake hit the Los Angeles area early Saturday, rattling windows and buildings around southern California.

Early reports put the magnitude of the quake at 7.0, according to California Institute of Technology researchers. Though a quake that size is capable of doing widespread damage, there were no immediate reports of injuries.

Witness Evette Zeitlow, in Palm Springs, about 100 miles east of Los Angeles, described the quake as "substantial."

The quake struck shortly before 3 a.m. (6 a.m. EDT) and appears to have been centered west of the metropolitan area.

"Initially we just saw some extremely strong shaking," Zeitlow said. "It was a rolling, a jolting, everything you hear about ... it absolutely was relentless."

At least two aftershocks hit the desert resort town shortly afterward, she said, but added that lights remained on and she saw little sign of damage.

The quake was centered about 35 miles north of Joshua Tree, a desert community east of Los Angeles.

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