M5.3 Temblor Shakes Southern California Area, No Damage So Far Reported

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Southern California at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The quake struck roughly 17 miles off the Santa Cruz Islands and was measured at 6.1 miles deep, according to the USGS.

The Associated Press reported the Los Angeles Fire Department went into “earthquake mode” and firefighters from all 106 of its firehouses began surveys of their territories, including bridges, dams, large buildings and power lines.

According to the L.A. Times, no significant damage has been reported, but some bricks fell from a chimney at a historic ranch in the Channel Islands region.

Officials at CalTech said Thursday at a press conference to expect aftershocks, and that there is a 1-in-20 chance the quake could trigger something bigger, the Times reported.

Topics California