Los Angeles was jolted by a powerful earthquake Thursday morning, disrupting the city’s rush hour and sending shockwaves through surrounding areas. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the tremor with a preliminary magnitude of 4.7, centered just over 4 miles north of Malibu.
Shortly after, a 2.8 magnitude aftershock hit the area, adding to the city’s unease. While no immediate injuries were reported, fire authorities are currently surveying for damage, according to Mayor Karen Bass.
The earthquake originated 7 miles below the surface, with its impact felt up to 45 miles away, the USGS reported. Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones stated the quake has a 40% chance of being linked to the fault line running along Malibu’s coast.
“This serves as a stark reminder that the calm we’ve seen in recent decades is temporary. Preparedness is key,” Dr. Jones said in an interview.
The quake adds further strain to Southern California, which is already battling a massive wildfire that has scorched thousands of acres this summer.
