A 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Los Angeles area on Monday, causing buildings to sway, dishes to rattle, and car alarms to go off. Despite the strong shaking, no major damage or injuries were immediately reported. The earthquake caused a pipe to burst at the Pasadena City Hall building, leading to water spilling from an upper floor. The ground swayed in Anaheim, where Disneyland is located, and dishes rattled in the celebrity neighborhood of Laurel Canyon. Photos on social media showed items littering the floor of a Target store in LA. The quake was centered near the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, about 6.5 miles northeast of City Hall.
The earthquake was felt as far south as San Diego and as far east as the Palm Springs desert region, and reports of the shaking were filed from the southern San Joaquin Valley, around 100 miles northwest of LA. Pasadena’s public information officer confirmed that the water leak at City Hall was caused by the quake. Approximately 200 employees safely evacuated from City Hall, and one person had to be rescued from an elevator. There was no obvious damage to Pasadena’s century-old Rose Bowl, but further assessments were planned. Los Angeles firefighters surveyed the city and found no significant damage. The quake served as a reminder of the seismic risks faced by California residents.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger highlighted the importance of being prepared for earthquakes, citing the 1994 Northridge earthquake as a reminder of the need for residents to know and follow safety protocols. The National Weather Service reassured that a tsunami was not expected following the earthquake. The USGS downgraded the initial estimate of the quake’s magnitude from 4.6. Richard Egan, who has lived through many earthquakes in Southern California, described the experience of the recent quake as average. The quake struck on the first day of the new school year for over half a million students in the Los Angeles Unified School District, but no injuries or significant damage were reported in school facilities.
The earthquake comes less than a week after a 5.2 magnitude temblor hit southern California, also widely felt in Los Angeles. That previous quake, like the recent one, resulted in no injuries or major damage. While the recent quake was a stark reminder of the seismic activity in the region, officials urged residents to remain prepared and vigilant for future events. The earthquake prompted evacuations and safety checks at schools and buildings in the affected areas. Despite the temporary disruption caused by the quake, residents in the region were reminded of the importance of earthquake safety measures. The shaking served as a wake-up call for Californians to stay prepared for potential seismic events.
