An earthquake occurred Thursday morning near Malibu, causing shaking across much of Southern California, from coastal areas to inland regions.
Initially recorded at a magnitude of 5.1, the quake was later adjusted to 4.7. It was accompanied by over two dozen aftershocks, including two measuring 3.4 in magnitude, with the potential for additional aftershocks in the following hours and days.
The earthquake struck at 7:28 a.m. at a depth of approximately seven miles, with reports of tremors felt in areas such as Malibu, Hermosa Beach, La Mirada, Anaheim, Santa Monica, the Hollywood Hills, and parts of the San Fernando Valley. Shaking is typically more intense in shallower quakes, those occurring between 0 and 40 miles deep.
Residents have reported no immediate injuries or major damage following the tremor. As a precaution, train services on Los Angeles’ Metro system will be temporarily slowed to assess possible damage, a routine procedure after seismic events.
Earlier this year, a magnitude-4.6 earthquake also centered near Malibu affected the region, which was followed by several aftershocks.
Local resident Mark Little noted that this earthquake felt different, stating, “It lasted longer, and the shudder and the shake was more severe.” He mentioned that while nothing was broken in his home, several items were displaced.
Scott Richter, the owner of Scott’s Malibu Market, shared his experience of the shaking while on his way to work, with security footage from his store showing the impact. He described how his baker, Anton, was startled while placing fresh products in the showcase.
Southern California has experienced multiple minor earthquakes recently, including a magnitude-5.2 quake south of Bakersfield. Dr. Lucy Jones, a seismologist, commented, “We are having earthquakes. None of them have been damaging. They’ve all been small. This is a really good reminder that the quiet of the last couple of decades is not our long-term picture.”
Residents received alerts about the earthquake through the state’s MyShake app, which issued 425,217 notifications according to the governor’s office.