A 4.6-magnitude earthquake northwest of Malibu caused widespread tremors Friday afternoon from the coast to inland parts of Southern California.
The quake was reported just before 2 p.m. about 7 miles northwest of Malibu in the Santa Monica Mountains. More than a dozen aftershocks of magnitudes 3.0 and 2.7 were reported in the same area within an hour.
“It's got a very strong aftershock sequence,” said seismologist Dr Lucy Jones, adding that the likelihood of the quake being a foreshock to a larger seismic event is diminishing rapidly over time.
Shaking Across the greater Los Angeles area, as many as 12 million people reported. The quake was felt from coastal LA, Orange and Ventura counties, including the South Bay and Long Beach, to inland areas such as the San Fernando Valley, downtown LA, Riverside, Irvine and Anaheim.
Light shaking was also felt in parts of northern San Diego County.
Marla Dailey felt the tremors while working at a Thousand Oaks dental office.
Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones discusses the Friday, February 9, 2024, earthquake in and around Malibu, Southern California.
“It was a big shock,” Dailey said. “We all figured out what was going on. The patients are fine, and they've continued their dentistry. It's always a little nerve-wracking.”
There were no immediate reports of significant damage. The Los Angeles Fire Department A damage survey after a high-magnitude earthquake was conducting a standard procedure.
The US National Tsunami Warning Center reported no tsunami.
The region has a series of seismic faults, but Jones said the quake was most likely on the Malibu Coast Fault, which runs along the coast in the Santa Monica Mountains. The fault lies near the communities of Pacific Palisades, Westwood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. Its eastern end meets the Santa Monica Fault
This earthquake falls on the same date as the 6.5 1971 San Fernando earthquake. That historic quake killed dozens of people, caused more than $500 million in property damage and raised fears of a catastrophic dam collapse. Its origin was in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles, but tremors were felt across a wide swath of the San Fernando Valley.
Also on Friday, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake on Hawaii's Big Island shook Oahu, including Honolulu, about 200 miles away. That quake was not associated with seismic activity in Southern California.
This bag includes scissors, bandages, gauze, insurance cards, cut and rash creams, antiseptic cream, antihistamine tablets, cough syrup, alcohol strips, eye drops and distilled water.
A whistle is the most important tool in an emergency situation as it helps rescue teams locate you.
It is important for each member of your family to have their own backpack. Each bag must include everything mentioned in this list. Seniors, children and pets should have their own backpacks. If you have a pet, prepare a bag with food and toys.
A poncho will keep you dry and protect you from the rain. Also need a change of warm clothes.
In a plastic bag, put soap, toothpaste, a toothbrush, deodorant, cotton, sanitary towels, lotion, disposable tissues, razors and feminine towels.
These lenses are used to protect your eyes from dust and other hazards.
A plastic bag includes a copy of your ID, license, passport and social security.
One gallon of water per person is recommended, so you should have at least 3 to 5 days worth of water.
Don't forget to pack a charger or two for your phone and portable chargers that can be pre-charged and ready to use on the go.
All the food you keep must be non-perishable. Don't forget to include a can opener.
Because natural disasters can strike at any time, it's important to have a flashlight in your emergency bag, but also in every room of your home. Make sure you have enough batteries.
It is important to have a self-charging radio and have batteries. You can buy a radio combo that includes a flashlight, radio, and phone charger.
These components are necessary to shut off the gas supply to your home.
If you have a medical history, add a list of your medications and take enough doses for a week.
Keep money in your bag. In case of a major emergency, banks or ATMs may not be accessible.
