A 4.4 magnitude earthquake rocked the Los Angeles region early Monday afternoon.
The epicenter was located near the city’s Highland Park neighborhood, a few miles north of downtown Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said it’s examining transportation infrastructures, apartment buildings, power lines and large places where people gather, like universities and Dodger Stadium.
The Los Angeles Police Department is warning residents to “be prepared for aftershocks” following the “significant” quake.
Cal Tech officials said the quake is believed to be along the lower Elysian Park Fault, but a number of faults are in the area.
The earthquake came on the first day of school for students at the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest school district in the country.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
On the morning of July 4th, 2019, residents of Los Angeles were jolted awake by a strong earthquake that shook the city to its core. The magnitude 6.4 quake struck at 10:33 am local time, with its epicenter located near the town of Ridgecrest, about 150 miles north of Los Angeles.
The earthquake was felt throughout Southern California, with reports of shaking as far away as Las Vegas and even in parts of Arizona. In Los Angeles, buildings swayed and residents ran out into the streets as the ground rumbled beneath them. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of serious injuries or major damage in the city.
However, the quake served as a stark reminder of the seismic risks that come with living in California. The state sits along the infamous San Andreas Fault, a major tectonic boundary that is capable of producing devastating earthquakes. While this recent quake was not on the San Andreas Fault, it still serves as a wake-up call for residents to be prepared for the next big one.
Experts are urging residents to take steps to prepare for earthquakes, including securing heavy furniture and appliances, creating an emergency kit with supplies such as food, water, and first aid supplies, and having a plan in place for how to communicate and reunite with loved ones in the event of a disaster.
In addition to being prepared at home, officials are also working to improve infrastructure and building codes to make structures more resilient to earthquakes. Los Angeles has made significant strides in retrofitting older buildings and bridges to withstand strong shaking, but there is still more work to be done.
While earthquakes are an inevitable part of living in California, being prepared and staying informed can help mitigate their impact. The recent quake serves as a reminder that we must always be vigilant and ready for the next big shake.
