On Thursday morning, a magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that the quake occurred at 7:28 a.m., with its epicenter located about 6 kilometers north of Malibu.
LA Quake Details
The USGS recorded at least five aftershocks following the initial quake, the strongest of which had a magnitude of 3.5 and occurred less than two kilometers from the epicenter at 9:37 a.m. Many residents reported feeling the quake in downtown Los Angeles, and city dwellers received an alert notification shortly before the tremor.
The Los Angeles Fire Department conducted inspections and reported no damage to infrastructure or injuries. Experts indicated that the epicenter was near the Malibu fault.
Why Does Los Angeles Experience Earthquakes?
Los Angeles is prone to seismic waves due to its location near several active geological faults, most notably the San Andreas Fault. This fault marks the boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate, which slide past each other laterally. When these plates become stuck and build up tension, the accumulated energy is eventually released in the form of an earthquake.
In addition to the San Andreas Fault, Southern California is also affected by other minor faults, such as the Malibu Fault and the Newport-Inglewood Fault. These faults contribute to the region’s seismic activity, making earthquakes a common occurrence in Los Angeles and much of California.
