Earthquake Los Angeles: Magnitude 3.7 Quake in Malibu, Thousand Oaks, and Oxnard
In the wee hours of the morning today, Southern California was jolted by a magnitude 3.7 earthquake whose emanating tremors were felt in several areas in the Southern part of the state, including Malibu, Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, and the surrounding districts. The quake hit about 6:45 a.m. PST and was centered near Los Angeles. The earthquake’s depth was indicated at 7.5 miles deep, thereby qualifying the occurrence to the category of a relatively shallow one. How the tremor felt was feverish but not powerful enough to cause any trouble.
Residents from different areas of Los Angeles reported the earthquake; some said they only felt a little shake, and others said they did not even notice it. The waves have also spread to Malibu, a coastal city experiencing a lot of seismic activity lately. Some residents in Malibu felt the shake was moderate, but no structural damage was reported.
Thousand Oaks and Oxnard, two cities northwest of Los Angeles, were also affected by the tremors. The local authorities of the said cities reported that they had been receiving a few calls stating minor tremors; however, nothing had been able to cause any harm or injury to the populace. In Oxnard, a few people indicated that their windows and light fixtures shook slightly, although the residents only experienced slight vibrations. There are no reports from the city of injuries or damage. To make sure that no aftershocks are taking place or no delayed effects are happening, all the emergency responders on a local level are heavily monitoring this issue.
In this recent study, scientists from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) revealed that the USGS has lately been focusing on local seismic activity and exploring the possibility of such disasters. Los Angeles, in general, is constantly subjected to small ones. The earthquake in Los Angeles is a significant concern due to its proximity to several fault lines, including the well-known San Andreas Fault. While, in this case, earthquakes of more considerable magnitude may be more dangerous earthquakes being frequent in that region, this event represents, in turn, the constant seismic activity that inhabitants of Southern California must face.
Last but not least, besides a gentle tremor, the event was a call for the local population to take care of the earthquake matter. The authorities are prompting the inhabitants of Los Angeles and nearby cities to take specific measures such as securing their houses, learning the evacuation routes, and establishing emergency kits. Knowing that the location is apt to seismic activity, experts agree about the importance of safety measures and readiness for future earthquakes. But we can never be sure, and thus, the residents of Los Angeles had better think of the possibility of more significant earthquakes in the next few years.
