Wednesday morning, a magnitude 4.2 earthquake and many aftershocks struck near Malibu in the Los Angeles area.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the original quake of magnitude 4.2 happened around 10 miles south of Malibu Beach, just offshore, at 2:00 a.m. PST. The earthquake was approximately 9.2 miles deep.
Ventura-based FOX Weather Correspondent Max Gorden remarked, “My bed shook so violently that I jumped out of it and ran into the living room.” “When an earthquake strikes in the middle of the night, a part of you wonders if it was just a dream, so I hopped on Twitter to see if it was simply my imagination, and sure enough, a number of local LA journalists had posted that they had felt it.
Three minutes after the initial quake, a magnitude 3.5 aftershock with a depth of approximately 8 miles was detected in nearly the same location.
This was followed by aftershocks of magnitude 2.8 and 2.6 at 2:22 and 2:38 a.m. PST, respectively.
“As I attempted to fall back asleep, I felt a smaller earthquake,” Gorden explained.
According to the National Weather Service, the earthquake was moderate enough that there was no fear of a tsunami, despite its proximity to the Southern California coastline.
The Los Angeles Fire Department was in “Earthquake Mode” for approximately 45 minutes following the quake, during which time all 106 fire stations completed “a strategic 470 square-mile survey of the City of Los Angeles… examining all major areas of concern (transportation infrastructures, large gatherings, apartment buildings, power-lines, etc.),” according to LAFD officials. There were no reported damages or casualties, and normal operations have resumed.
In addition, the FOX Forecast Center has not received any reports of damage or injuries. According to the USGS, earthquake damage normally occurs when the magnitude exceeds 4 or 5.
The USGS requests that anybody who felt the tremors on Wednesday morning send a quick report at this page.
»Multiple aftershocks and a magnitude 4.2 earthquake rock the Los Angeles region«