Earthquake centered in Malibu rattles Southern California

LOS ANGELES - A preliminary magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck Southern California Thursday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. 

The earthquake struck around 7:28 a.m. and was centered about 3.5 miles northwest of Malibu. It was about 6.5 miles deep. 

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Preliminary data suggested that the earthquake was magnitude 5.1, but it was later revised to 4.7 magnitude. 

At least five aftershocks ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 in the hours afterward were reported by the USGS. 

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. 

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There was no tsunami warning following the earthquake, according to the National Weather Service.

The earthquake was felt widespread across the region, including in Burbank, Santa Clarita, Long Beach, Anaheim, Camarillo, and Ventura. 

Seismologist and chief scientist Dr. Lucy Jones said the quake had a 40% chance associating with the fault line in Malibu, which runs along the coast. 

"This is a really good reminder that the quiet of the past couple of decades is not the long term picture, and we need to be prepared," she said. 

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Usually by this time of year, California has felt around 8 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4 or higher, Dr. Jones said. But so far in 2024, we have seen 14.

Dr. Jones said the shallow quake was not related to the weather. 

"When it's several miles below the surface of the earth, the weather doesn't make a difference," Dr. Jones said. 

In a statement, the Los Angeles Fire Department said no injuries have been reported and that personnel will be surveying critical infrastructure and areas of concern for damage. There have been no reports of structural damage.

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The "earthquake mode" was completed by about 8:30 a.m., the LAFD reported.

The Los Angeles Unified School District reported no damage or injuries. 

Some residents said it was the strongest quake they’ve ever experienced.

To Miguel "Gorilla" Lopez, "It felt a truck hit the house."

"We were listening to the windows kinda shake and then it was like pound - pound -pound and then a wave," said Megan Nicole. 

In West LA, as a precaution, students at Daniel Webster Middle School left their classrooms.

Images from SkyFOX showed crews cleaning up dirt and rocks that fell in Malibu Canyon.

"It felt like a bomb. It didn't feel like a rumbling like a normal earthquake. This was like hard," exclaimed Chevelle Leblanc from Calabasas.

Molly Park, who lives in Newbury Park told us, "It was very shaky like it was angry."

And to Dara Haq who works at a dental office in Agoura, "... like the floor was shaking. I was going to take cover but by the time I took cover it was already over."

"All my plants are moving and the whole bed was moving...so it was pretty scary. I never felt that strong an earthquake before," said Ventura resident Kaylee Maddux.