Earthquake hits Los Angeles area: How big was it and where was the epicenter?
An earthquake shook the Los Angeles region early Monday afternoon. Local authorities are advising residents to prepare themselves for aftershocks.
The United States Geological Survey has reported that a 4.4 magnitude earthquake rocked Southern California early Monday afternoon. The quake took place at 12:20 p.m., with the epicenter spotted three miles southeast of the Highland Park neighborhood in Los Angeles, near downtown L.A.
Early reports indicated that a wide swath south of the state throughout the Los Angeles basin and some areas such as San Diego and Ventura felt the earthquake.
The Los Angeles Police Department has urged residents to prepare themselves for any aftershocks, and described the quake as “significant.”
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The quake caused a water pipe to burst at Pasadena City Hall, but the leaking has since been contained.
The L.A. Fire Department said it is inspecting structures such as apartment buildings, universities, transportation infrastructure, and power lines, to see if they were also affected by the earthquake.
No significant damages nor injuries have been reported so far. Most residents received a pre-earthquake warning via their mobile devices, which helped evacuate homes and buildings prior to the event.