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4.5 Magnitude Quake Hits LA
Orange star marks the epicenter of a quake that hit L.A. late Friday night. (Screenshot via USGS)
An earthquake struck east of downtown Los Angeles at 11:38 p.m. According to the U.S. Geological Survey the quake hit about 2 miles southwest of South El Monte and had a preliminary magnitude of 4.5.
Initial reports have the earthquake's magnititude, which has since been revised downward twice which is not uncommon as scientists assess the data coming in from their monitors.
Seismologist Lucy Jones reported from Pasadana via Twitter:
"Still getting everything processed, but it was a pretty good jolt here in Pasadena"
Yes. A M4.6 2 mi WSW of El Monte at 11:38. Almost the same location as the M5.9 Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) September 19, 2020
Historical seismicity map for the fairly deep (for SoCal) M4.6 just now near El Monte, very close or in the aftershock zone of the 1987 Whittier Narrows sequence pic.twitter.com/ST6kEqRiMJ
— Jascha Polet (@CPPGeophysics) September 19, 2020
The USGS is asking for people if they felt the quake, information they use to determine the range of the shaking.
Sponsored message
Did you feel it, LA LA Land? M4.6 at 11:38pm PDT, 3 km west-southwest of South El Monte.
— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) September 19, 2020
Info at https://t.co/wH0Zmsd3bK
THE BIG ONE IS COMING. GET PREPARED
We don't want to scare you, but the Big One is coming. We don't know when, but we know it'll be at least 44 times stronger than Northridge and 11 times stronger than the Ridgcrest quakes last year. To help you get prepared, we've compiled a handy reading list
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