Southern California Rocked by Malibu Earthquake – NBC Los Angeles

TL/DR –

A magnitude-4.6 earthquake was reported northwest of Malibu in Southern California, causing widespread shaking felt from the coast to inland areas. The event produced more than a dozen aftershocks, including two of significant magnitude, 3.0 and 2.7. There were no immediate reports of significant damage, no tsunami was triggered, and the earthquake may have occurred on the Malibu Coast Fault along the coastline in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Malibu Rocked by 4.6 Magnitude Earthquake with Widespread Impact in Southern California

An earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale hit northwest of Malibu Friday afternoon, causing shaking felt from coast to inland areas across Southern California.

The tremor was recorded just before 2 p.m. near the Santa Monica Mountains, seven miles northwest of Malibu. More than a dozen aftershocks, the strongest being magnitudes 3.0 and 2.7, were felt within an hour in the vicinity.

Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones stated the quake had a “very robust aftershock sequence,” and that the likelihood of it being a foreshock to a larger event diminishes with time.

Shaking was experienced across the greater Los Angeles area, potentially impacting up to 12 million people. The quake could be felt in LA, Orange and Ventura counties, South Bay, Long Beach, San Fernando Valley, downtown LA, Riverside, Irvine, Anaheim, and even parts of north San Diego County.

Marla Dailey, working in a Thousand Oaks dental office, described it as a “major jolt.” Despite the initial shock, business at the dental office proceeded as usual.

There were no immediate reports of significant damage. The Los Angeles Fire Department commenced a damage survey, as is standard after significant seismic activities. The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center confirmed no tsunami was triggered.

The Malibu Coast Fault, located in the Santa Monica Mountains along the coastline, is suspected to be the epicenter. This fault is proximal to Pacific Palisades, Westwood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica, and meets the Santa Monica Fault at its eastern end.

Interestingly, the quake coincides with the anniversary of the lethal 1971 San Fernando earthquake, a magnitude-6.5 quake that caused extensive damage and loss of life.

Also on Friday, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake on Hawaii’s Big Island was felt as far as 200 miles away on Oahu, in Honolulu. It was unrelated to the seismic activity in Southern California.

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