Mon Mar 17 04:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Malibu Rattled by 3.9 Magnitude Earthquake

**Los Angeles, CA** – A 3.9 magnitude earthquake struck just under a mile from Malibu on Sunday at 8:17 p.m., prompting light shaking across a wide swathe of Los Angeles County. The quake, which lasted approximately 10 seconds, was felt as far south as Long Beach and as far north as Oxnard, with reports also coming from downtown Los Angeles. Residents in Thousand Oaks described a “pretty good rattle.”

This is the second significant earthquake to hit the area in a week, following a 4.1 magnitude quake the previous Sunday. The increased seismic activity is part of a concerning trend; Southern California experienced a record-high 15 seismic sequences with at least one magnitude 4.0 or greater earthquake in 2024, the highest yearly total in over 60 years, according to seismologist Lucy Jones. The Malibu area alone has seen three quakes exceeding magnitude 4 in the past 13 months.

While the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department reported no damage, the quake did rattle their Agoura station. The quake’s depth was recorded at 8.9 miles.

The USGS encourages residents who felt the earthquake to report their experience. Experts also remind residents to prepare for future seismic events, suggesting resources for earthquake preparedness. The average annual occurrence of earthquakes between magnitudes 3.0 and 4.0 in the Greater Los Angeles area is five, according to recent data.

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