Many residents of Los Angeles, Calif. awoke this morning (Mar. 17) to an earthquake. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a 4.4. magnitude quake hit around 6.25 a.m. PDT five miles from Westwood. There have been no reports of injury or damage.
The temblor was caught on camera during a number of early morning news broadcast shows. According to the Los Angeles Times, the earthquake was felt over a large part of Southern California but especially in San Fernando Valley and Westside.
Local news stations report that there has been six smaller aftershocks with more expected. Robert Graves, a seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, told the media that the earthquake was the biggest in the areas since 2008 when a 5.5 temblor hit Chino Hills.
Graves also said there was a slight possibility that the earthquake could have been a prelude to an equal or stronger temblor.
"Always the possibility that's a foreshock," Graves said, the LA Times reports.
He did add that only five percent of earthquakes are a foreshock and that if it was going to happen, then it would occur within the next couple hours. However, the place where the earthquake happened has some geologists a little puzzled because the area has not been seismically active recently.
"The location is somewhat surprising. It's within the Santa Monica Mountains," he said. "We have not seen seismicity in it in recent times. It has been dormant for quite some time."
Following the quake, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti issued a statement saying: "Today's earthquake is a reminder that every L.A. family must be prepared with food, water and other essentials, as well as a plan," he said in a statement. "While it appears the greatest impact of this temblor was a rude awakening, we are executing our post-earthquake protocols to survey our neighborhoods and critical infrastructure. I have been briefed by my science advisor for seismic safety, Dr. Lucy Jones, and will continue to monitor the situation."
