Janice R. Andrews
A 4.6-magnitude earthquake that occurred northwest of Malibu caused vibrations to spread throughout Southern California, from the coast to the interior. Millions felt the trembling that followed the earthquake that struck the Santa Monica Mountains shortly before 2:00 p.m.
More than a dozen aftershocks, including magnitudes of 3.0 and 2.7, were recorded, according to seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones. The probability of a more significant seismic event decreased over time, despite early worries.
Shaking was reported in many parts of the greater Los Angeles area, from inland areas like the San Fernando Valley and Riverside to coastal counties including LA, Orange, and Ventura. Even the northern counties of San Diego felt mild to moderate shaking.
As a precaution, the Los Angeles Fire Department started a damage inspection even though no serious damage was recorded right away.
The Malibu Coast Fault, which runs close to Pacific Palisades, Westwood, and Beverly Hills, is most likely where the earthquake started. Thankfully, there is no tsunami hazard, according to the US National Tsunami Warning Center.
This seismic event serves as a sobering reminder of the region’s seismic susceptibility as it occurs on the anniversary of the tragic San Fernando earthquake in 1971.
A different earthquake of a magnitude of 5.7 shook Hawaii’s Big Island in the meantime, having an impact as far afield as Honolulu on Oahu. But there was no connection between this incident and the seismic activity in Southern California.
