Magnitude 4.4 Earthquake Shakes Los Angeles, Particularly Highland Park Area

The calm of a Monday lunchtime in Los Angeles was disrupted when a magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck, causing buildings to tremble and leaving many residents throughout the region feeling shaken. Despite the widespread alarm triggered by the quake, there have been no reports of major damage or injuries to date.

Felt Across Southern California

The quake’s impact was felt from San Diego County to Simi Valley, reaching as far as Victorville and Redlands. Residents closest to the earthquake epicenter recorded videos of a powerful tremor and associated rattling, which led to a few distressing cries and gave rise to panicked actions from several pets. Kyle Shearer, a resident of Highland Park, described it as “very, very scary”, adding that even though it was not his first encounter with an earthquake, it was the most frightening “in a long time”.

The details of the Earthquake

The earthquake was marked at a depth of approximately six miles, with the epicenter stationed in Highland Park. Initially pegged as having a magnitude of 4.7, this estimate was later reduced to 4.4 following further analysis.

Martha Fuerst School of Nursing professor Christine Chandler described the moment of the seismic event as a sudden “jolt”, adding, “And then the building just started to shake violently. It wasn’t those nice roll-y ones we get. I had to hold on to the door jamb.”

Immediate Response from the Authorities

Fire departments in both the LA county and city, due to the perceived scale of the event, entered earthquake mode to survey the region for potential damage or impacted infrastructure. Los Angeles city fire called off earthquake mode at 1:15 p.m., having found no signs of damage.

However, some minor damage was reported in Pasadena, a few miles away from the epicenter. An area named incident occurred at the Pasadena City Hall where a sprinkler head broke at the top of the city hall rotunda, causing a stream of water to flood out onto the sidewalk. This situation resulted in approximately 200 staff members being evacuated from the building.

An individual was temporarily trapped in an elevator in the City Hall building as a result of the earthquake but was quickly aided by firefighters who managed to extricate them. Firefighters were also investigating a report of a ruptured gas line, although it remains unconfirmed whether this was a direct consequence of the earthquake.

Statement from Seismologist

Dr. Lucy Jones, a Seismologist, clarified the fault system involved in the 4.4 earthquake in Highland Park, stating, “This area has a network of buried faults, so it’s not something that shows up on the surface. The same network was involved in the 1987 Whittier Narrows quake. However, whether it’s the same strand or not, because it’s complicated and at depth, we’ll never be able to say.”

Staying Prepared for an Earthquake

It is essential to stay prepared for such a natural disaster. Having an earthquake kit in advance can save lives during “the big one”. Essentials in the kit should include bottled water, canned food, a first-aid kit, a flashlight, batteries, and a hand-crank radio.

All relevant parties continue to keep a close watch on further developments after this powerful seismic event. The utmost priority remains the safety and security of Los Angeles residents, and all measures to ensure preparedness for future events are being taken.