A 4.7 quake in California did little damage to the golden state.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located near Anza, about 100 miles southeast of Los Angeles. The U.S. Geological Survey said that there were reports of smaller seismic events around the same time as the 4.7 magnitude quake. No damage has been reported.

Susie Bride, a cashier at Cahuilla Mountain Market and Cafe in Anza, said: “It kind of shook and then I thought, `God, is that an earthquake?’ It kind of shook and then it rolled a little bit and then it shook again.”

The quake was centered under the desert town, but it was also felt in Los Angeles and San Diego.

The quake was originally recorded as a 5.1 earthquake but was later downgraded to 4.7. Susan Hough, a geologist with the USGS, said the quake was “tricky to analyze” since a smaller quake occurred right before the larger earthquake.

The California quake didn’t cause much damage today, but retired geology professor Pat Abbot said that it may be a precursor for a larger tremor. Abbot said that we’ll know within 72 hours if the quake today was just a foreshock.

Abbott said:

“There’s always that slight chance – slight chance now – that this could be the foreshock of something larger. Probably not. Usually this is just an event all by itself … It doesn’t hurt to keep it in mind, in the next 72 hours in particular. If a larger one is going to occur it would probably be during that three-day period.”

Did you feel the earthquake today?

4.7 California Quake Causes Little Damage is a post from: The Inquisitr

A mega-quake along the San Andreas Fault might be a real possibility, according to a new scientific study. Although scientists have not considered a major earthquake along the San Andreas reaching from San Diego to San Francisco was impossible, a new report suggests otherwise.

An important fault near the city of Paso Robles may not serve as a barrier to a major earthquake in all instances, as previously thought, according to a Nature journal report. Scientists utilized computer simulations and laboratory measurements to illustrate how “creeping” segments in fault might behave like “locked” segments, the Inland News Today notes.

According to the new study, creeping segments were thought to be benign because they slowly and steadily slip along as the tetonic plates shift. A build up of stress over time might be able to cause the creeping segments to rupture.

US Geological Survey in Pasadena geophysicist Kenneth Hudnut (who was not a part of the new study) considers the San Andreas Fault mega earthquake report a “warning message.”

Hudnut also stated that a California earthquake strong enough to blast through the allegedly unstable “midsection” of the San Andreas Fault was unlikely, according to the Los Angeles Times. The geophysicist shared his concerns that if such a mega-quake did occur, it would place unanticipated strain was placed on emergency response system.

Caltech engineer Nadia Lapusta stated that prior San Andreas Fault thinking centered around an earthquake happening at either the southern of northern sections of the fault line. She had this to say about the new study:

“This study shows that if an earthquake penetrates that creeping area in a certain way, it could rupture through it.”

A section of presumably stable fault ruptured during the Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan in 1999. The mega-quake was a 7.6 magnitude temblor and killed more than 2,400 people.

Mega-Quake On San Andreas Fault A Possibility, According To New Study is a post from: The Inquisitr

The United States Geological Survey is reporting that a large earthquake has struck in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California and Mexico.

According to the USGS, the 6.3 magnitude quake struck at approximately 2:36 am Friday about 163 miles southwest of the nearest city, Avalon, on California’s Santa Catalina Island.

While Southern California experiences frequent earthquakes along the San Andreas and associated faults, the spot where Friday’s quake struck has not seen any temblors greater than magnitude 6.0 in the past 40 years, the USGS added.

Officials said there were no reports of injuries or damage from the temblor, which occurred at the relatively shallow depth of 6.3 miles.

The quake did not trigger a tsunami danger.

Following the earthquake, NBC 7 San Diego’s Facebook followers reported feeling “slight shaking” in La Mesa, Poway, Ocean Beach, and as far away as San Ysidro. However, authorities in Los Angeles and San Diego counties say the quake wasn’t widely felt, and nobody reported any damage or injuries.

Per the USGS’ website, Friday’s 6.3 quake was the largest of the year to date, exceeding a 5.6 magnitude temblor earthquake which struck the north of California in January.

The quake, which originated from within the crust of the Pacific plate, represents a rare intraplate earthquake as opposed to more common interplate events that occur at plate boundaries.

ABC News has more on Friday morning’s earthquake off the coast of California in the video below:

California Earthquake: 6.3 Magnitude Quake Hits Off Pacific Coast [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

A moderate earthquake hit central California on Sunday, but authorities have assured that the tremor, which measured 5.3 on the Richter scale, did not cause any damage.

The earthquake took place in a coastal area of central California, and the US Geological Survey noted that almost 6,700 people reported feeling the earthquake on its website, according to Fox News.

The quake struck around midnight on Saturday near King City, which is about 90 miles southeast of San Jose. USGS geophysicist Don Blakeman stated that it occurred in a “seismically active area” near the San Andreas Fault.

At least four aftershocks over magnitude 2.5 followed the initial tremors. While Monterey and San Luis Obispo sheriff’s departments both stated they received calls from residents, there were no reports of damage, likely because the quake struck in a mostly rural area dominated by rolling hills and large ranches, notes Boston.com.

The moderate earthquake comes just a few days after 14 million people, including 9.3 million in California, ducked under tables and covered their heads as part of an annual earthquake drill called the “Great ShakeOut,” reports CBS News.

The drill is designed to help schools, offices, and other buildings prepare for what they would do in the case of a major earthquake. Along with Western and southern states, residents in Guam, Puerto Rico, parts of Canada, Italy, and also Virginia took part in the drill.

An earthquake that is magnitude five or higher is capable of causing damage, usually because of things being knocked off shelves. They are also capable of more severe damage like moderate cracks in walls and foundations.

The US Geological Service also noted that a minor earthquake with a magnitude of 3.5 struck about 15 miles east of Eureka, California. Eureka police stated that there were no reports of injuries or damage.

Blakeman added tha the two earthquakes in California on Sunday are not thought to be related.

California Hit With 5.3 Magnitude Earthquake, Aftershocks is a post from: The Inquisitr

A Baja earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale struck on Tuesday evening, sending a series of aftershocks throughout Mexico and southern California.

The earthquake took place off the coast of Baja California and was quickly followed by two others, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Scientists from the US Geological Service determined that the Baja earthquake occurred in the ocean roughly 47 miles north-northeast of La Paz, which is off the coast of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. That placed the earthquake about 604 miles from Phoenix, Arizona.

At about 4:45 pm, the earthquake was felt in Los Angeles; then 20 seconds later another earthquake struck, this one with a magnitude of 4.2. After 12 minutes passed, a third earthquake was felt, this one measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale.

The Los Angeles Times reported that there was no immediate word of damage or injuries from the Baja earthquakes.

In La Paz, where the Baja earthquake was felt more strongly, there were also no immediate reports of damages or injuries, The Associated Press reported.

“We are calling on the public to remain calm in case there are aftershocks,” said state civil defense director Carlos Rincon

The areas west of the Gulf of California is noted as a hotbed of seismic activity. This area, which includes the Baja California Peninsula, is moving to the northwest at a speed of 95 millimeters per year. It is the motion of these plates that actually created Baja California, pulling it away from land and forming the Gulf of California.

The Baja earthquake was not as destructive as some past tremors to strike Mexico. In 1985, one measuring 8.1 struck in Medico City, killing more than 9,500 people.

Baja Earthquake Measures 6.2, Sends Aftershocks All The Way To Los Angeles is a post from: The Inquisitr

The two small earthquakes that shook Los Angeles earlier this week resulted in no major damage or injuries – but there could be worse to come.

According to leading U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Doug Given, the two quakes – a 3.2 on Monday, and a 3.5 after midnight on Friday – occurred at the intersection of two potentially critical faults that run right beneath the urban core of Los Angeles County. Both faults, claims Given, could yet trigger a powerful magnitude 7 quake.

Monday’s quake occurred near the junction of the Santa Monica faultline, which runs directly under Santa Monica Boulevard and close to Pacific Palisades, Westwood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. Friday’s slightly larger quake occurred along the Newport-Inglewood fault, which terminates north of Inglewood and joins the Santa Monica fault.

The notable length of each fault means they could generate a highly powerful quake, and their location beneath Westside and western L.A. County poses an obvious threat to the local population, says Given.

As well as last week’s quakes being a potential precursor to something more destructive, it’s also worth noting that one of the faults has previously triggered a hefty 6.3 quake: movement along the southern part of the Newport-Inglewood fault caused the 1933 Long Beach quake, in which 115 people died. Less seriously, in 2009, a 4.7 quake centered near Inglewood broke windows and resulted in a movie theater losing a good portion of its ceiling tiles!

A scenario generated by the Division of Mines and Geology simulated a 6.6 earthquake along the Santa Monica fault, and discovered that 54,000 buildings could be damaged – 85 beyond repair – and as many as 30 people could die, with more than 200 people hospitalized.

New Earthquake Coming To Beverly Hills? Small Quakes Could Trigger Magnitude 7 Monster is a post from: The Inquisitr

Los Angeles, CA – A 3.5 earthquake struck Los Angeles early Friday, making it the second to hit the city this week. The earthquake was centered in the Beverly Hills area.

The earthquake was reported at 12:03 am and affected a wide area of Southern California including the San Fernando Valley and downtown Los Angeles. The shaking was also felt in Santa Monica and Hollywood. The Los Angeles Fire Department sent firefighters on the ground and in helicopters to assess roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. An hour after the temblor was reported, fire spokesman Brian Humphrey said there were no signs of significant damage or injuries, and the inspection was discontinued.

The US Geological Survey said the epicenter of the earthquake was one mile from Century City, two miles from West Hollywood, and nine miles from Inglewood and the Los Angeles Civic Center.

A 3.3 earthquake hit Beverly Hills Monday at 3:26 am, but no damage was caused. The epicenter was one mile from West Hollywood, two miles from Century City and eight miles from the Civic Center. The USGS said it was most strongly felt on the Westside, South Bay, downtown Los Angeles, and the San Fernando Valley.

Another 3.3 earthquake was reported Tuesday evening, three miles from The Geysers, a complex of 22 geothermal power plants located north of San Francisco. The earthquake was reported at 6:32 pm at a depth of 1.2 miles. The epicenter was four miles from Cobb, 7 miles from Anderson Springs, 27 miles from Santa Rosa, and 74 miles from Sacramento. No injuries or damages were reported.

[Photo credit: US Geological Survey]

3.5 Earthquake Rattles Los Angeles is a post from: The Inquisitr

According to the USGS, the 4.0-magnitude quake struck at 10:14 p.m. in the Channel Islands region and was centered 30 miles southwest of Malibu and about 50 miles west of Los Angeles.

Light “shaking” from the temblor was felt in Moorpark, Fillmore and Thousand Oaks and even as far as Carpinteria, Santa Clarita and Irvine, KTTV reported.

Sheriff’s and fire officials say there are no reports of damages or injuries from the quake, and the Los Angeles Fire Department is not in earthquake mode.

Brandon David Wilson, a school teacher who lives in the Culver City area, said on Twitter that he felt the earthquake, but it was “just a sharp jolt. No big whoop.”

Other California natives, including actress/singer Cher, also took to Twitter to joke about the recent Malibu temblor’s impact.

“Felt quake,” Cher wrote. “No Biggie! Was born here.”

Another Twitter user, KoreaTown joked:

“If an earthquake doesn’t exceed a 5.5 on the Richter scale it is definitely not worth getting out of bed for. #sizematters”

The LA Times reports prior to the 4.0 quake, there had been no earthquakes in the Malibu area greater than 3.0 in magnitude over the last 10 days.

California Earthquake: 4.1 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Malibu is a post from: The Inquisitr

Less than six hours after a 5.8 earthquake in Virginia had east coast citizens in panic-mode and news outlets buzzing, a California earthquake measuring a magnitude of 3.6 rolled through the San Francisco Bay Area garnering far less attention.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the temblor, which struck at 11:36 pm on Tuesday, appeared to be centered on the Hayward Fault – located about six miles south of Oakland. Roughly five minutes later a smaller quake measuring 2.3 followed.

By 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, the USGS’s Did You Feel It? map had received several hundred responses to its request for reports from those who felt the late night quake. The majority of those who responded said they felt a sharp jolt which lasted roughly two seconds.

Doug Sovern, a reporter for KCBS 740 AM, described the Bay Area quake in a Twitter post saying:

“Quick hard shake of the house here on Berkeley-Oakland border. Nice adrenaline boost!”

Aftershocks of the midnight Bay Area earthquake were felt this morning as a 2.7 quake was reported near Yorba Linda in Orange County.

While the series of  California mini-quakes have reportedly caused no damage, they have given West Coast folks the opportunity to get in a few well timed jabs at the eastern seaboard’s expense.

The best we’ve seen so far was shared by Twitter user Ayelet Waldman who wrote:

Love this: “The collective eye-rolling of everyone in California is probably moving the earth more than the east coast earthquake.”

via LA Times

California Earthquake Shakes San Francisco Bay Area is a post from: The Inquisitr

Just after 4AM local time this morning, a minor quake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale hit “a large swath” of Southern California.

The quake was centered about ten miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Little damage was reported, but recent, high-profile seismic activity and larger quakes in Haiti and Chile had some residents feeling a little unnerved by the incident.

Commenters on ABC’s Los Angeles affiliate KABC reported feeling the earthquake in several of the surrounding towns.

“The earthquake knocked me out of bed,” one Arcadia poster wrote. “It was pretty scary!!! I ran out from house and it was so cold outside and I stayed in car like 10 min, after I got back home I couldn’t sleep.”

Geophysicist Jessica Sigala of the United States Geological Survey said the minor quake was no cause for alarm:

“With a 4.4 here, we probably wouldn’t see substantial damage, just a lot of shaking,” Sigala said, adding that the quake was hard enough probably just to knock books off shelves and maybe break windows.

The area may see some aftershocks, she said, but they will likely be smaller than the initial earthquake.

No damage, injuries or threats to local infrastructure have been reported in the wake of this morning’s earthquake.

Los Angeles wakes up to 4.4 magnitude quake is a post from: The Inquisitr

A small earthquake rattled the San Francisco Bay area this morning (January 7 2010,) including the tech hub of Silicon Valley.

The 4.1 earthquake struck at 10:09 a.m. local time with an epicenter just to the east of the Calaveras Reseviour, 10 kms (6 miles) from Milpitas and 18 km (11 miles) ESE of Fremont.

With a relatively shallow depth of 11 km (6.8 miles), the quake was felt as far away as San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Stockton.

The quake was followed by a range of smaller aftershocks ranging from 1.5 to 2.2. There was no reports of any damage.

Minor Earthquake Rattles San Francisco Bay Area is a post from: The Inquisitr

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 4.3. and the epicenter was located about 11 miles north of Morgan Hill, or 16 miles south east of San Jose. There were no reports of injuries or damage.

San Jose is located at the southern end of Silicon Valley, and is not far from headquarters of the internet’s biggest companies, including Google and Yahoo.

Earthquake rattles San Jose, California is a post from: The Inquisitr

Southern California residents may hear earthquake sirens today, but there’s no reason to be greatly alarmed, it’s all part of a massive drill.

The Great Southern California ShakeOut drill is being run at 10 am PST in conjuction with a dozen colleges and universities. The University of California will be staging events at its Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego campuses.

According to the official ShakeOut site

In an earthquake of this size, the shaking will last for nearly two minutes. The strongest shaking will occur near the fault (in the projected earthquake, the Coachella Valley, Inland Empire and Antelope Valley). Pockets of strong shaking will form away from the fault where sediments trap the waves (in the projected earthquake, it would occur in the San Gabriel Valley and in East Los Angeles).

An earthquake of this size will cause unprecedented damage to Southern California—greatly dwarfing the massive damage that occurred in Northridge’s 6.7-magnitude earthquake in 1994. In summary, the ShakeOut Scenario estimates this earthquake will cause some 2,000 deaths, 50,000 injuries, $200 billion in damage and other losses, and severe, long-lasting disruption. The report has regional implications and is a dramatic call to action for preparedness.

More details here, and the official video as follows:

California earthquake drill today is a post from: The Inquisitr