Thu Sep 12 16:30:43 UTC 2024: ## Malibu Rattled by 4.7 Magnitude Earthquake, Followed by Aftershocks
**Los Angeles, CA** – Southern California experienced a magnitude 4.7 earthquake early Thursday morning, shaking residents awake across the region. The temblor, which struck at 7:28 a.m. just north of Malibu, was followed by a magnitude 3.4 aftershock about an hour later.
While the quake was felt widely, including downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and as far away as San Diego and Bakersfield, no damage has been reported.
“Earthquakes like to cluster up,” explained Morgan Page, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey. He warned that there is a 1 in 20 chance of another earthquake of magnitude 4.7 or greater in the next week.
Initial analysis suggests the quake originated either from the Malibu or Anacapa faults. Despite its relatively small magnitude, the earthquake was felt strongly in Malibu, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, and Calabasas, with some residents reporting shaking lasting up to 12 seconds.
The earthquake comes on the heels of a magnitude 4.6 earthquake that shook Malibu on February 9th, and a series of earthquakes in El Sereno in the summer. This recent activity has prompted experts to emphasize the importance of earthquake preparedness in Southern California.
“The quiet of the last couple of decades is not our long term picture, and we do need to be prepared,” said seismologist Lucy Jones, a Caltech research associate.
While the recent string of earthquakes doesn’t necessarily predict a larger, more destructive event, the public is being reminded that the state hasn’t experienced a truly devastating earthquake in an urban area since 1994.
The Los Angeles Times encourages residents to download the MyShake app, which provides earthquake early warnings, and to be prepared for future tremors.
First Piper 