Magnitude 4.7 Earthquake Shakes Southern California
A magnitude 4.7 earthquake has struck Ventura County, California, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake hit at 7:28 a.m. and was centered approximately 4 miles north of Malibu. Following the initial tremor, the USGS recorded at least five aftershocks, the strongest of which had a magnitude of 3.5 and occurred less than a mile from the epicenter at 9:37 a.m.
Seismologists note that earthquakes of magnitudes between 4 and 5 typically cause light shaking with minimal to no damage. The tremors were felt across downtown Los Angeles, with CNN journalists in the area reporting the sensation. Many residents were alerted to the quake moments before it occurred through the USGS’s ShakeAlert system.
The Los Angeles Fire Department reported no infrastructure damage or injuries. Emergency personnel from over 100 fire stations were dispatched to survey the area by land, air, and sea.
The earthquake’s epicenter was near the Malibu fault, according to seismologist Lucy Jones from the California Institute of Technology. “Although the epicenter was close to the Malibu fault, there isn’t a clear association with it,” Jones mentioned during an afternoon press conference. “In Southern California, everyone is within a few miles of an active fault.”
Jones emphasized that the recent period of seismic quiet should not be seen as a long-term trend, urging residents to remain prepared. She noted that California typically experiences around eight earthquakes of magnitude 4 or higher by this time of year, but 2024 has already seen 14 such quakes.
Malibu resident Joanne Gary, reflecting on the quake, said, “I thought it was never going to end. I started to think it was the big one because we’ve had all these little quakes.” The earthquake was widely felt across the region, including in Malibu, Westlake Village, Agoura, Thousand Oaks, and Los Angeles.
