Residents across Los Angeles County experienced a sudden jolt late Friday night as a 3.7-magnitude earthquake struck Malibu, just days after experts warned of continued seismic activity in California.
Details of the Earthquake
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake hit at 11:44 p.m. on February 14, with a depth of 15.3 km in the northwest Malibu area. While there were no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage, the tremor was widely felt across the region.
The earthquake occurred as Southern California grapples with mudslides and flooding following a powerful storm system that drenched the area in recent days.
Residents React on Social Media
Many locals took to social media to share their experiences.
One X user, Houman David Hemmati, posted:
“Whoa. Sudden jolt of an earthquake in LA!” Later, he reassured followers: “Wasn’t bad! Don’t worry.”
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Another user commented:
“3.7 Earthquake. First fires, then mudslides, and now an earthquake.”
Reports of shaking came from Malibu, Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Long Beach, the South Bay, and the San Fernando Valley.
Recent Seismic Activity in California
This latest earthquake follows a series of tremors across California earlier in the week, prompting seismologists to caution residents to stay alert.
- February 10: A 3.5-magnitude earthquake struck San Bernardino at 9:44 a.m., followed by a 3.0-magnitude aftershock just minutes later.
- Later that night: A third quake (3.1 magnitude) was recorded north-northeast of San Bernardino.
- February 11: A 4.1-magnitude earthquake hit Ferndale just after midnight, followed by additional quakes of 3.0 and 4.5 magnitude later in the evening.
Seismologist Weighs In
Dr. Jess Johnson, an associate professor in Geophysics at the University of East Anglia, noted that while these earthquakes are relatively small, they could indicate ongoing seismic activity.
“Most of these quakes have been minor, with only a few felt by residents. The largest, a magnitude 4.5, had weak shaking intensity,” she explained.
As for the Valentine’s Day earthquake, experts are still assessing its impact and whether it is part of a larger seismic trend in the region.
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