Trio of earthquakes rattles L.A. area before dawn

A magnitude-4.0 earthquake was reported at 4:44 a.m. Monday near Inglewood, less than half an hour after two smaller foreshocks hit the same area.

The larger quake was felt across Southern California, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A magnitude-3.3 temblor that preceded it hit the same area at 4:15 a.m., while a magnitude-2.5 shaker struck at the same time about two miles away. There were no immediate reports of damage.

The main earthquake was centered near the intersection of Prairie and Century boulevards. It occurred less than a mile from Lennox, less than a mile from Hawthorne and one mile from Los Angeles.

It was followed by several smaller quakes in the Inglewood and Lennox area.

Earthquake expert Lucy Jones said on Twitter that the magnitude-4.0 quake was strong enough to be “felt by most people awake in LA” but noted that it had occurred “very deep” in the earth, about 12 miles down. She added it was likely not on any mapped faults. The foreshock and flurry of aftershocks occurred at about the same depth, Jones said.

The M4.0 that just happened was under Lennox, CA, near Inglewood. Very deep at 20 km, so everyone is at least 20 km away. Would have been felt by most people awake in LA. Movement was thrust, probably not on any mapped fault https://t.co/UIPbVH0kw5

— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) April 5, 2021

A KCBS-TV news broadcast was on the air when the magnitude-4.0 temblor struck.

“That was definitely an earthquake right there,” anchor DeMarco Morgan said after the light shaking. “You were not dreaming.”

WATCH: CBS2 News This Morning's @DeMarcoReports, @AmberLeeNews and @LesleyMarin were live on the air when the 4.0M earthquake struck Lennox. https://t.co/29d73E0vBv pic.twitter.com/a69WslJzLM

— KCAL News (@kcalnews) April 5, 2021

Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a tweet shortly before 7 a.m. that no damage had been reported.

A 4.0 earthquake in Inglewood shook the L.A. area this morning. Our @LAFD conducted its routine survey of the City of L.A. and reports no damage.

— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) April 5, 2021

Residents on social media reported power outages in the area around the quakes. A representative for Southern California Edison could not immediately be reached for comment.

In the last 10 days, there have been three earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.

An average of five earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.0 to 4.0 occur each year in the Greater Los Angeles area, according to a recent three-year data sample.

Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.

Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.

Source: Los Angeles Times