(KTLA) – An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.6 jolted the Los Angeles area on Thursday morning, and its impacts were felt by millions of people across Southern California.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake struck at 7:28 a.m. with an epicenter 4.3 miles north of Malibu. It was nearly 7 miles deep.
The quake was initially reported as a magnitude 5.1 before being downgraded to 4.6, then changed to 4.7. Several viewers of Nexstar's KTLA reported that they felt the quake in the Inland Empire, Orange County and along the coast.
No damage to infrastructure and no injuries were immediately reported within the city of Los Angeles.
“We’re still conducting a critical facilities check,” L.A. County Sheriff's Lt. Adam Zeko, working in Malibu and Westlake Village, told the Associated Press. “We haven’t gotten anything major at this time.”
The California Highway Patrol did report some debris rolling into the roadway of Malibu Canyon Road near the quake’s epicenter, but Public Works was already clearing the rocks by 8:35 a.m.
Thousands of earthquakes are recorded in California yearly, but the vast majority are extremely minor. Several hundred reach a magnitude of 3.0, and only about 15 to 20 are greater than magnitude 4.0, according to the USGS.
In North America, only Alaska records more quakes per year than California.
During an earthquake, it’s crucial to know the proper steps to protect yourself and minimize injury. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Statewide California Earthquake Center (SCEC) at the University of Southern California provide detailed guidelines for such events. Here are the key points:
If indoors, immediately drop down onto your hands and knees. This position prevents you from being knocked over and allows you to stay low and crawl to safety if necessary. Use one arm to protect your head and neck, and, if possible, take shelter under a sturdy table or desk. If no shelter is available, get down next to an interior wall away from windows. Stay on your knees and bend over to protect vital organs. Hold on to any shelter (e.g., the table or desk) until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if it shifts.
If outdoors, the CDPH recommends getting away from buildings, utility poles or electrical wires, and laying flat on the ground until the shaking stops.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
