Los Angeles Residents Jolted Awake by 4.2-Magnitude Earthquake
Residents in Los Angeles were jolted awake by a 4.2 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Malibu, California, just after 2 a.m. PT on Wednesday, January 25, 2023.[0] According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter of the quake was located about 10 miles south of Malibu Beach and 15 miles southwest of Santa Monica.[1] A magnitude 3.5 aftershock followed the initial earthquake at 2:03 a.m., with two more aftershocks reported—a 2.8-magnitude at 2:22 a.m. and a 2.6-magnitude at 2:38 a.m.[2]
The quake was felt throughout much of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, stretching in the north to San Buenaventura, in the south to Laguna Niguel and up into Santa Clarita and Palmdale in the north.[3] The USGS estimates that the quake was felt all the way to San Diego. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the earthquake posed no risk of a tsunami.[4]
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) went into “earthquake mode” to survey for any damage, and the FOX Forecast Center had not received any immediate reports of damage or injuries either.[5] According to the USGS, damage typically doesn’t occur until the earthquake magnitude reaches above 4 or 5.[6] After their survey, the LAFD tweeted that there were “no damage or injuries reported and normal operational mode has resumed.”[7]
The sudden jolt came as a shock to many, as singer SZA asked on Twitter whether anyone else felt America shaking.[8] Hundreds of earthquakes are recorded in California each year, most being extremely minor.[0] Unfortunately, this quake came almost exactly five years after a 4.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Southern California in 2018.[9]
The USGS is asking anyone who felt the quake to submit a brief report.[10] Although the ShakeAlert system was activated by the earthquake, it was too small to trigger the delivery of ShakeAlert-powered alerts to cell phones.[11]
Residents in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles were also jolted awake by a 2.4-magnitude earthquake on Saturday afternoon. The quake struck about a mile northeast and the temblor was reported to be about 1.9 miles deep.[12]
0. “Earthquake leaves Disney star and DJ shaken up after huge tremors felt in LA” Daily Star, 25 Jan. 2023, https://www.dailystar.co.uk/showbiz/us-showbiz/earthquake-leaves-disney-star-dj-29046917
1. “4.2 magnitude earthquake strikes near Malibu” KTRK-TV, 25 Jan. 2023, https://abc13.com/42-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-near-malibu/12733718/
2. “4.2 magnitude earthquake hits Southern California; epicenter off coast of Los Angeles” KRON4, 25 Jan. 2023, https://www.kron4.com/news/4-2-magnitude-earthquake-hits-southern-california-epicenter-off-coast-of-los-angeles
3. “Did You Feel The Malibu Quake?” Malibu, CA Patch, 25 Jan. 2023, https://patch.com/california/malibu/did-you-fell-malibu-quake
4. “4.2 Magnitude Earthquake Rattles Los Angeles” iHeartRadio, 25 Jan. 2023, https://www.iheart.com/content/2023-01-25-42-magnitude-earthquake-rattles-los-angeles/
5. “4.2 magnitude earthquake hits Malibu, California, aftershocks reported” AL.com, 25 Jan. 2023, https://www.al.com/news/2023/01/42-magnitude-earthquake-hits-malibu-california-aftershocks-reported.html
6. “Magnitude 4.2 earthquake, multiple aftershocks shake Los Angeles area” New York Post, 25 Jan. 2023, https://nypost.com/2023/01/25/magnitude-4-2-earthquake-multiple-aftershocks-shake-los-angeles-area/
7. “4.2 magnitude California earthquake, aftershock shake Malibu Beach area” Fox News, 25 Jan. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/us/4-2-magnitude-california-earthquake-aftershock-shake-malibu-beach-area
8. “California earthquake: US' state jolted by two strong tremors within minutes” True Scoop, 25 Jan. 2023, https://www.truescoopnews.com/newsdetail/california-earthquake-us-state-jolted-by-two-strong-tremors-within-minutes
9. “Los Angeles earthquake: 4.2 magnitude offshore quake strikes near Malibu coast, USGS says” KABC-TV, 25 Jan. 2023, https://abc7.com/earthquake-malibu-quake-usgs/12733675
10. “Los Angeles earthquake: US city hit by tremor with locals woken by ‘big jolt'” The Mirror, 25 Jan. 2023, https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/breaking-los-angeles-earthquake-city-29004823
11. “Southern California earthquake: Magnitude 4.2 hits near Malibu, LA” USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2023, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/01/25/earthquake-los-angeles-area-malibu/11118506002/
12. “Sherman Oaks earthquake: 2.3-magnitude quake reported, no injuries reported” KABC-TV, 22 Jan. 2023, https://abc7.com/sherman-oaks-earthquake-los-angeles-quakes-us-geological-survey/12724356/