4.4-Magnitude Earthquake Rattles Los Angeles

 By 
Andrew Freedman
 on 
4.4-Magnitude Earthquake Rattles Los Angeles
Credit: USGS

An earthquake was strongly felt across Los Angeles, Calif., on Monday morning, according to multiple social media reports and preliminary data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Preliminary data puts it as a 4.4 magnitude earthquake on the Richter Scale, which would be enough to cause mild to moderate shaking, with an epicenter of six miles northwest of Westwood and Beverly Hills, Calif., at 6:26 a.m. PT. The quake had been rated as a 4.7 magnitude earthquake on the Richter Scale but then downgraded upon further analysis. (It is possible that this strength estimate will be revised again as scientists examine the data.)

According to the USGS, the earthquake was strong enough to cause shaking throughout the Los Angeles metro area, and light to moderate damage. There were no reports of damage or injuries as of 9:45 a.m. ET.

Mashable Image
Earthquake intensity and shaking map for the Los Angeles area. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Here’s the seismograph. pic.twitter.com/jfX3raw4GW— Marc Ambinder (@marcambinder) March 17, 2014

More: USGS says epicenter of quake 6 miles northwest of Westwood, California pic.twitter.com/g4sKL7Swag— ABC News (@ABC) March 17, 2014

There were also no reports of water main breaks or power outages.

LA Water & Power: No reports of water main breaks or power outages as if 6:45amPT following LA quake— Jesse Rodriguez (@JesseRodriguez) March 17, 2014

The biggest quake in LA since I’ve moved here. #LAquake More of a scare than anything else.— Marc Ambinder (@marcambinder) March 17, 2014

Morning anchors on local station KTLA ducked under their desks mid-newscast as they felt the quake.

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