A magnitude-4.6 earthquake struck northwest of Malibu on Friday, causing widespread shaking across Southern California. The quake, which occurred just before 2 p.m. in the Santa Monica Mountains, was followed by a series of aftershocks, with the largest measuring magnitudes 3.0 and 2.7.

Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones described the aftershock sequence as "very robust" but stated that the likelihood of a larger seismic event rapidly diminishes. The quake was felt by as many as 12 million people throughout the greater Los Angeles area, including coastal regions in LA, Orange, and Ventura counties, as well as inland areas such as the San Fernando Valley, downtown LA, Riverside, Irvine, and Anaheim. Some weaker shaking was also reported in parts of north San Diego County.

Reports of damage following the earthquake were minimal, and the Los Angeles Fire Department initiated a standard damage survey. The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center confirmed that no tsunami was triggered by the seismic activity.

Seismologists speculate that the quake may have occurred along the Malibu Coast Fault, which runs along the coastline in the Santa Monica Mountains close to the communities of Pacific Palisades, Westwood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica. This fault intersects with the Santa Monica Fault at its eastern end.

Interestingly, the earthquake coincided with the anniversary of the deadly magnitude-6.5 San Fernando earthquake of 1971, which claimed numerous lives, caused extensive property damage exceeding $500 million, and sparked concerns about the potential collapse of a dam. While the San Fernando earthquake originated in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, it was felt across a wide area of the San Fernando Valley.

In another seismic event on Friday, a magnitude-5.7 earthquake struck Hawaii's Big Island, causing shaking that could be felt as far as 200 miles away in Honolulu on Oahu. However, this quake was unrelated to the seismic activity experienced in Southern California.

Despite the significant shaking and aftershocks, Southern California appears to have been spared from significant damage, reminding residents of the importance of preparedness in earthquake-prone regions.