LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. – A magnitude 4.2 earthquake and multiple aftershocks struck near Malibu in the Los Angeles area early Wednesday morning.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the initial 4.2-magnitude quake occurred just offshore about 10 miles south of Malibu Beach at 2 a.m. PST. The depth of the earthquake was about 9.2 miles.
Some three minutes after the first quake, a magnitude 3.5 aftershock was reported in nearly the same spot at a depth of about 8 miles.
That was followed by 2.8-magnitude and 2.6-magnitude aftershocks at 2:22 a.m. and 2:38 a.m. PST, respectively.
There is no tsunami threat despite the earthquakes striking so close to the Southern California coastline, according to the National Weather Service.
EAST VS. WEST: WHY EARTHQUAKES ARE FELT DIFFERENTLY ON EITHER SIDE OF THE U.S.
“The LAFD is now in earthquake mode. All 106 neighborhood fire stations will conduct a strategic survey of their districts, examining all major areas of concern (transportation infrastructures, large places of assemblages, apartment buildings, power-lines, etc),” Nicholas Prange with the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a 2:30 a.m. PST statement. “This survey will be conducted from the ground, air and sea. Once this process is complete and reports are consolidated, assuming there is no significant damage, earthquake mode will be complete. This process typically takes less than one hour.”
The FOX Forecast Center had not received any immediate reports of damage or injuries. According to the USGS, damage typically doesn’t occur until the earthquake magnitude reaches above 4 or 5.
Anyone who felt Wednesday morning’s earthquakes is asked by the USGS to submit a brief report at this website.