A magnitude-4.6 earthquake struck northwest of Malibu, causing widespread shaking across Southern California on Friday. The quake, which occurred seven miles northwest of Malibu in the Santa Monica Mountains, was reported just before 2 p.m.

Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones explained that the earthquake had a robust aftershock sequence, with over a dozen aftershocks, including the largest ones measuring magnitudes 3.0 and 2.7, reported in the same area within an hour. Despite concerns of a larger seismic event, Dr. Jones stated that the possibility of this quake being a foreshock rapidly diminishes.

The shaking was felt by as many as 12 million people throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Reports of shaking came from the coastal areas of LA, Orange, and Ventura counties, including South Bay and Long Beach, as well as inland areas such as the San Fernando Valley, downtown LA, Riverside, Irvine, and Anaheim. Some weak to light shaking was also reported in parts of northern San Diego County.

Marla Dailey, who was working in a dental office in Thousand Oaks, described the earthquake as a major jolt. However, she stated that the patients remained calm and the dental work resumed, albeit with a bit of nervousness.

Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of significant damage. The Los Angeles Fire Department initiated a damage survey, as per standard procedure after a higher magnitude earthquake. The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center confirmed that no tsunami was triggered.

Dr. Jones highlighted that the earthquake possibly occurred along the Malibu Coast Fault, which runs along the Santa Monica Mountains coastline. The fault is situated near the communities of Pacific Palisades, Westwood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica, with its eastern end connecting with the Santa Monica Fault.

Interestingly, this earthquake coincides with the date of the deadly magnitude-6.5 San Fernando earthquake in 1971. The historic quake caused numerous casualties, extensive property damage surpassing $500 million, and fears of a dam collapse. Although its origin was in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles, its shaking was felt across a wide area of the San Fernando Valley.

In addition to the earthquake in Southern California, a separate magnitude-5.7 earthquake shook Hawaii's Big Island, causing shaking even on Oahu, approximately 200 miles away, including in Honolulu. However, this earthquake was unrelated to the seismic activity experienced in Southern California.