A magnitude 4.4 earthquake hit Los Angeles County on Monday morning, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake was centered around Highland Park, shaking buildings and unsettling residents across Southern California, from San Diego County to Simi Valley, and as far as Victorville and Redlands.
Though there were no significant injuries or damage reported, those near the epicenter experienced noticeable shaking, with many sharing videos capturing the intense jolt. Some residents expressed their fears, recalling how the quake startled pets and prompted screams. Kyle Shearer from Highland Park described the experience as “very, very scary,” noting it was among the most frightening quakes he had experienced.
The earthquake occurred at approximately 12:20 p.m. at a depth of nearly six miles. Initially recorded as a 4.7-magnitude event, it was quickly revised to 4.4-magnitude. Christine Chandler, a nursing professor from Glendale, stated, “It was a jolt,” adding that the building she was in shook violently, rather than giving the usual rolling sensation.
In response to the earthquake, the Los Angeles County and city fire departments activated their earthquake response protocols to assess potential damage, particularly infrastructure-related. The Los Angeles city fire department concluded its assessments by 1:15 p.m., reporting no major damage.
Nonetheless, some minor incidents occurred in Pasadena, just a few miles from the quake’s epicenter. A broken pipe at Pasadena City Hall caused water to flow onto the sidewalk, leading to the evacuation of around 200 employees. The deputy chief of the Pasadena Fire Department noted that the leak was due to a broken sprinkler head, which firefighters managed to shut off. Additionally, one individual was briefly trapped in an elevator but was quickly rescued by firefighters.
The department also investigated a report of a broken gas line, but it has not yet been determined if this was related to the earthquake. Deputy Chief Anthony James described the jolt he felt while driving, likening the sensation to the ground moving beneath him.
Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones explained that many Southern Californians found the shaking to be more intense than that of previous earthquakes due to the urban location of the quake. This specific area is known for its complex network of buried faults, making it difficult to identify the exact fault source of the earthquake. Dr. Jones mentioned a connection to the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake but indicated that pinpointing the specific strand involved is complicated and uncertain at depth.