Magnitude 4.5 Quake Rattles Southern California – Los Angeles, CA Patch

LOS ANGELES, CA– Residents across Southern California were scanning their homes Saturday morning for any damage brought on by a magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 2 miles south of Rosemead and was felt across a big part of the region, consisting of Orange County.

The magnitude 4.5 earthquake epicentered in the San Gabriel Valley location shook the Los Angeles location Friday night at 11:38 p.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake's center was simply southwest of El Monte. Shaking was reported as far south as San Diego with more extreme shaking felt throughout Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange counties along with the Inland Empire. The quake took place at a depth of nearly 11 miles. It was a sharp, jolting temblor. There are no reports of serious injury or substantial infrastructure damage associated to the earthquake, according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

According to seismologist Lucy Jones, the quake happened in practically the same place as the magnitude deadly 5.9 Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 that triggered more than $200 million in damage. The area has an extremely active geological fault that runs through the center of Los Angeles and is capable of producing significant quakes.

A set of aftershocks, magnitudes 2.1 and 1.6, struck within 10 minutes of the quake, Jones said. She said there is just about a 5% possibility of a more powerful quake in the instant future.

She later tweeted this quake “is ruled out an aftershock (to the Whittier Narrows quake) because the aftershocks died off entirely in less than 2 years.”

The Los Angeles Fire Department went into “Earthquake Mode, with all 106 Neighborhood Fire Stations checking their locations for damage.”

About 12:45 a.m., the department said it had completed its evaluations.

“Though felt widely in the greater Los Angeles area, we are happy to report there are no serious injuries, and no initial indication of substantial facilities damage within the City of Los Angeles,” department representative Brian Humphrey said.

The department asked locals to likewise look at at-risk neighbors, particularly elders living alone, and family pets.

There were no reports of damage at Los Angeles International Airport, but crews are thoroughly examining the airfield and terminal, officials at Los Angeles World Airports said.

USC tweeted about 2:15 a.m. that “(Department of Public Safety) completed a study of (the primary) & &(Health Services) schools, respectively. There were no reports of injuries or damage.”

A news photographer near the Golden State (5) and Garden Grove (22) freeways in Santa Ana told City News Service the shaking there was “considerable.”

The Los Angeles Police Department tweeted about 12:40 a.m. “thankfully there are no substantial events to report” and asked locals to only call 911 for emergency situations.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was likewise alerting residents to get ready for aftershocks.

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“If Inside When Shaking Starts: DROP, COVER, HOLD ON! Protect Your Head + Neck While Taking Cover Under Sturdy Furniture or Near a Sturdy Interior Wall, Away From Windows and Doorways Until Shaking Stops,” the department alerted.

The Los Angeles Police Department asked homeowners to just call 911 for emergency situations.

City News Service contributed to this report.