A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck the city of Los Angeles and the wider southern California region on Monday afternoon, rattling nerves and swaying buildings, but with no major damage or injuries immediately reported.
The quake’s epicenter was in Highland Park, a populous neighborhood in east Los Angeles located about six miles from the the city’s downtown, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
It was first reported as a magnitude 4.6 and later downgraded by the USGS. It was at a depth of just 7.5 miles (12.1km) below the surface. The Los Angeles police department warned residents to be prepared for aftershocks.
“There are currently no initial reports of structural damage or injuries,” said the Los Angeles fire department, which had gone into “earthquake mode”.
People reported feeling strong shaking across the Los Angeles area. A medical building shook and residents said glasses and dishes rattled in many places.
The quake was felt from greater Los Angeles south to San Diego and east to the Palm Springs desert region, according to the USGS community reporting page. A small number of reports were filed from the southern San Joaquin Valley about 100 miles north-west of LA.
Sports and news shows that were filming live showed commentators rattled by the sudden shaking. The ground swayed in Anaheim, where Disneyland is located in Orange county. Dishes rattled in the LA neighborhood of Laurel Canyon, home to many celebrities, and photos on social media showed shampoo bottles and other items littering the floor of a Target store.
4.7 magnitude earthquake felt live on the @TravisRodgers and @AllenSliwa show. We still feel like we're shaking 😅 #earthquake@DuranSports @EmilyHybl @JABcamLA pic.twitter.com/naNt3OK8jy
— ESPN Los Angeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) August 12, 2024
BREAKING | 4.4 magnitude earthquake near Highland Park, California. Felt throughout Los Angeles#breaking #earthquake
— Bobby Ellison (@BobbyEllisonKY) August 12, 2024
pic.twitter.com/EP6toe1VvK
The quake served more as a reminder of what could happen in a state where a huge population lives above active fault lines.
“Having lived through the Northridge earthquake [magnitude 6.7 in 1994], today’s tremor made me flash back to what we know are lifesaving rules during an earthquake: drop, cover and hold on. It was also a reminder to us all that we live in earthquake country and we need to be prepared,” said the Los Angeles county supervisor Kathryn Barger.
The quake comes less than a week after a 5.2 magnitude temblor hit southern California that was also widely felt in Los Angeles. That quake caused no injuries or major damage.
The National Weather Service said a tsunami was not expected.
It struck on the first school day for the Los Angeles unified school district. At least one high school, John Marshall in Los Feliz, alerted parents that they had evacuated the buildings to check for damage, but did not see any immediately.
Monday’s earthquake occurred about 4 miles from the city of Pasadena, where TV news helicopters showed water spilling from an upper floor of Pasadena City Hall, an ornate domed structure dating to 1927 and seismically retrofitted in the 2000s. Lisa Derderian, a public information officer for the city, confirmed that the water leak was caused by the quake. About 200 employees safely evacuated from City Hall and one person was rescued from an elevator, she said.
Associated Press contributed reporting
