The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded 90 small earthquakes in the vicinity of the cities of Lennox and Westmont in California. Their magnitude varied from 1.0 to 2.7 points.
Residents in Crenshaw, Huntington Park, Bell, West Adams, Mid-City and Gardena told the Los Angeles Times (LAT) that they felt light shaking from Friday evening, September 11, until midday Saturday. As the publication clarifies, new tremors occurred after an earthquake of magnitude 3.2 that occurred last week in the same region.
According to KTLA TV channel, simultaneously with microtremors in Los Angeles County, earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.5 to 3 were recorded in Ventura County, as well as near Catalina Island.
Reddit users shared their impressions of the earthquakes in California. Some described the event as a “slight wobble” or called it a “small shake,” while others noted concerns about the possibility of a stronger earthquake and expressed hope that “nothing serious will happen.”
“A series of small shocks [произошла] in Compton and the Avalon and Catalina Island area. This always reminds us that we need to be prepared for an earthquake and have an emergency bag with us,” one user emphasized.
The seismic activity was concentrated on the Newport-Inglewood fault zone, which extends from Culver City to Newport Beach in California, LAT notes. According to seismologists, it is there that tremors with a magnitude of more than 7 may occur in the future.
The basis for this is a study conducted in 2017. It showed that the fault may be more dangerous than previously thought, as indicated by evidence of ancient earthquakes in the same region. According to seismologists, the ancient tremors reached a magnitude of 7.5, which is why “part of the coastline went under several feet of water.”
Experts have also long warned of a catastrophic Big One along the San Andreas Fault. The risk of earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 6.7 in the next 30 years is estimated at 72%.
Such a catastrophe would have widespread devastating consequences across the state, California Institute of Technology seismologist Lucy Jones said in connection with the new tremors, citing her own forecasting models, the New York Post (NYP) said.
California is generally considered a seismologically active zone. With nearly 16,000 known faults in the state, every region is at risk of earthquakes, says the California Earthquake Authority (CEA), a nonprofit organization that provides earthquake insurance to state residents.
The CEA recommends checking whether there are active faults in the vicinity of homes, and whether homes are at risk of landslides or liquefaction, when the ground loses density and stability due to tremors.
If a home was built before 1980, it may be less resistant to shocks, the CEA adds. She recommends securing heavy furniture to prevent it from tipping over, and checking water heaters, stoves and appliances to prevent damage to utilities from shaking. During an earthquake, the organization recommends following the “Down, Cover, Hold” rule.
“Wherever you are, get down on your hands and knees. This position will help you avoid falling and allow you to crawl to cover. Cover your head and neck with one hand. If there is a desk nearby, hide under it. If there is no cover, crawl along the inside wall, away from the windows. If you are under cover, hold onto it with one hand. If there is no shelter, hold your head and neck with both hands,” CEA emphasizes.
