Jolting many residents awake at 4:31 a.m., shaking was felt across a widespread area before dawn. Daylight and the search for victims in the hours that followed revealed devastation that had not been seen from an earthquake in Southern California since the 1971 San Fernando Earthquake.

Below, a look back at notable Southern California earthquakes since the Northridge Earthquake in January 1994.

Northridge Earthquake

It’s not the largest magnitude earthquake on this list, but it is by far the most devastating. The Northridge Earthquake centered in the west San Fernando Valley began rattling Los Angeles on Jan. 17, 1994 at 4:31 a.m., a moment seared into the memories of residents who were awakened by the terrifying shaking. More than 60 people died. More than 9,000 people were injured and 20,000 were displaced in a natural disaster that caused an estimated $20 billion in damage. The destruction included collapsed buildings and freeway overpasses, snapped water and gas lines, rampant fires and landslides.

Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence

Thursday’s magnitude-6.4 quake was in the same area that was struck by a magnitude-5.4 quake in 1995. That Aug. 17, 1995 earthquake, centered north of Ridgecrest, was followed by more than 2.500 aftershocks during the following five weeks. On Sept. 20 that same year, a second large earthquake struck the region. At magnitude-5.8, it was likely on the same fault system as the earlier quake. More than 1,900 aftershocks followed the September earthquake.

Hector Mine Earthquake

In October 1999, one of the largest earthquakes recorded in Southern California was centered in the desert east of LA. The magnitude-7.1 Hector Mine quake produced shaking throughout SoCal and in parts of Arizona to Nevada from its epicenter in the Mojave Desert. It was in such a remote location that it was named after an open quarry pit and caused little damage, aside from a surface rupture in the Twentynine Palms Marine Base.

Laguna Salada Earthquake

On the morning of Feb. 22, 2002, a magnitude-5.7 earthquake shook a widespread part of the U.S.-Mexico border region and as far north as Orange County. Thirteen significant aftershocks, measuring magnitude 3 or greater followed. The same fault likely produced a magnitude-7.0 quake in 1890

Northern Baja Earthquake

In late December 2009, the U.S.-Mexico border was again the site of a quake that rattled a large part of Southern California. The magnitude-5.8 Northern Baja quake was located about 22 miles southeast of Calexico, California. It’s likely the quake involved a zone of faults that run parallel to, but are separate from, the infamous San Andreas Fault. 

Sierra El Mayor

Rumbling that originated from northern Baja California surged throughout Southern California and into parts of Arizona and Nevada. The magnitude-7.2 quake generated moderate shaking in SoCal.

Independence Day Quake

Just as Southern Californians were settling in for a day off and celebratory fireworks, the shaking set in — and kept going and going. It was a magnitude-6.4 earthquake centered in the Searles Valley area about 150 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The quake caused damage in the immediate area, but only rattled a few nerves in the LA area.

July 5, 2019 Earthquake

What we thought to be the main event turned out to be a foreshock. A day after the magnitude-6.4 Searles Valley quake, a magnitude-7.1 earthquake generated a strong swaying motion throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding area. Click here for updates. 

Aug. 20, 2023 Hurriquake

Remembered not so much for it’s strength or the damage it caused, the 2023 ‘Hurriquake’ was notable for when it occurred. Mother Nature dealt Southern California a one-two punch Aug. 20, 2023 when an earthquake in Ventura County triggered widespread shaking on the same day as the region was drenched by its first tropical storm in decades. The magnitude-5.1 earthquake at 2:41 p.m. startled Southern Californians who were already braced for the remnant of Hurricane Hilary

The Great California ShakeOut of 2021 is scheduled for 10:21 a.m.

Below, you’ll find a Q&A with Chief Sam DiGiovanna of the Verdugo Fire Academy in Glendale.

What should we do before an earthquake?

Be prepared for up to 72 hours with food, water, and supplies. Flashlight, batteries, radio and first aid kit. Learn how to turn off/control the gas, water, and electricity. Make up a plan of where to meet your family and neighbors after an earthquake.

Just like EDITH (Exit Drills In The Home), practice with your family and neighbors. Train as if your life depends on it – because it does. Remember, the most emergency preparedness kits are sold after an earthquake. Now is the time to prepare! Do not forget about the elderly & pets!

If I am in bed and an earthquake strikes, what do I do?

Duck, cover and hold. Put your pillow over your head and wait until the shaking stops. Have a flashlight near your bed because power may be out.

What if I am at home, at work or is a store. What should I do?

Stay calm.. If you are indoors, stay inside. If you are outside, stay outside. If you are indoors, stand against a wall near the center of the building. Stay away from windows. If you are outdoors, stay in the open away from power lines or anything that might fall.

Many of us spend a lot of time of time in our cars. What if I’m driving?

If you are in a car, stop the car and stay inside the car until the earthquake stops. Have an emergency kit in your car along with sturdy shoes in the event you may have to walk. Watch out for powerlines or objects that can fall.

What should I do when the shaking stops?

Check yourself and others for injuries. Provide first aid for anyone who needs it. Check water, gas, and electric lines for damage. Do not touch any downed lines! If you smell gas, evacuate immediately. Do not turn off the gas unless you smell it. Be careful around broken glass and debris. Expect aftershocks.

Sam DiGiovanna is a 35-year fire service veteran. He started with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, served as Fire Chief at the Monrovia Fire Department and currently serves as Chief at the Verdugo Fire Academy in Glendale.

“We need to remember that the quiet of the last 25 years is not representative of the long-term Southern California pattern,” the seismologist said during the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Monday. “And we should get used to having more than we’ve seen recently.” 

Jones said young people who were not around during the 1994 Northridge earthquake or those who are new to Southern California should not get comfortable with the recent frequency of quakes. 

“It’s a good reminder that earthquakes are part of our environment,” Jones said. “It’s the reason — Southern California is as beautiful as it is — we need to be ready to experience bigger ones, too.”

To prepare for the next big one, Jones said the first step is to talk to family members and loved ones about a plan.

“Have a communication plan. If the earthquake happens when your kids are at school, do you know what they’re going to do? Do you know what you’re going to do about it? Do you know when you can get to them?” Jones said.

She also urged parents to talk to teens and children about connecting if there is no cell signal after a big earthquake. 

“Having a plan, planning to use texting instead of phone calls when the system’s gonna be overloaded – all of those are really important,” Jones explained.

What is the first thing the respected seismologist would remember when a big one strikes?

“Probably the most important thing is water,” Jones said, explaining that because the water systems are the weakest part of the state’s infrastructure, they are likely to be badly damaged after a disaster like a big tremor. 

“FEMA will bring in water after we lose the water systems. But do you want to go and spend a couple hours standing in line every day to get the water you need for your family? Probably not.”

Southern California Aug 31

Series of earthquakes shake SoCal: Are we prepared for ‘the big one'?

Earthquakes Sep 12

Dozens of aftershocks follow magnitude-4.7 Malibu earthquake

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The earthquake was reported at 4:56 a.m. on Friday and had a depth of about 6.5 miles. Over 300 people reported having felt the shaking.

The quake was felt in areas like Los Angeles, Oxnard and even Long Beach, the USGS website said.

The quake’s initial magnitude of 5.1 was soon downgraded to 4.7. It was followed by more than two dozen aftershocks, including two of magnitude-3.4, with more aftershocks possible in the hours and days ahead.

Southern California Aug 31

Series of earthquakes shake SoCal: Are we prepared for ‘the big one'?

Earthquakes Aug 13

This week's quake came from most destructive fault. Here's what to know

Centered just north of Malibu, shaking from the 7:28 a.m. quake at a depth of about seven miles was reported in Malibu, Hermosa Beach, La Mirada, Anaheim, Santa Monica, the Hollywood Hills and parts of the San Fernando Valley. Shaking is more likely to be felt from shallow earthquakes, which are those between 0 and about 40 miles deep.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage.

Trains will be slowed on Los Angeles’ Metro system to check for damage, which is standard procedure following an earthquake.

In February, a magnitude-4.6 earthquake centered northwest of Malibu rattled the region. The afternoon quake in the Santa Monica Mountains also had an active aftershock sequence.

Resident Mark Little said the shaking was different this time around.

"It lasted longer, and the shudder and the shake was more severe," Little said. "And, we had we had nothing broken, but more things moved around."

Scott Richter, owner of Scott’s Malibu Market, said he felt shaking on his way to work. Security camera video from inside the store captured shaking.

"We were loading our showcases and our baker, Anton, he was putting in our fresh products that we make daily every morning," Richter said. "You could just see him kind of like grasping to the to the showcase there."

Southern California has felt shaking from several earthquakes in recent weeks, including a magnitude-5.2 quake located south of Bakersfield.

"We are having earthquakes. None of them have been damaging. They've all been small," said seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones. "This is a really good reminder that the quiet of the last couple of decades is not our long-term picture."

Phones in the areas received notifications via the state’s MyShake app, which sent 425,217 alerts, according to the governor's office.

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The earthquake struck at about 5:43 a.m. in Riverside County. Residents in Yucaipa, Cathedral City and Escondido reported having felt the shaking according to the USGS Did You Feel It? report.

More than 250 people reported having felt it according to the USGS website.

The earthquake had a depth of 16 km, about 9.9 miles.

The quake occurred at 9:39 a.m. with a depth of about 5.4 miles.

A 3.0-magnitude aftershock was also reported about a minute after the initial quake, according to the USGS.

According to the USGS, shaking was reported in Whittier, Pasadena, Riverside, Menifee, Irvine, La Verne, San Dimas and Lake Forest.

There are no immediate reports of any damage or injuries.

How to stay prepared for earthquakes

While it is still nearly impossible to predict earthquakes, Californians can potentially learn about tremors a few seconds before they strike by signing up for an alert message.

• Government Emergency Alerts: Free text messages will be sent out when an earthquake with magnitude-5.0 or higher strikes.
• MyShake App: The free smartphone app for iPhone and Android users will send audio and visual warnings for tremblors with magnitude-4.5 or higher.
• Android Earthquake Alerts: Android users with updated operating systems are automatically subscribed to Android Earthquake Alerts.

How to protect yourself during earthquake

• Drop to the ground, cover your head until shaking stops.
• Do not stand in a doorway.
• Stay away from glass windows and mirrors.
• If you can’t get onto the ground, cover your head with arms as much as possible and remain in place.

Earthquakes Aug 13

This week's quake came from most destructive fault. Here's what to know

Earthquakes Aug 7

Californians warned ahead of time of Kern County earthquake via app

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Millions of people are directly on top of the Puente Hills Thrust Fault System, covering everything from USC to downtown Los Angeles to Pasadena and the northern parts of Orange County.

Research from 2005 said if a magnitude-7.5 earthquake hit that same fault system, thousands of people may die although a big earthquake like a 7.5 is only expected once every few thousand years and many safety improvements have taken place in buildings and cities since the research came out.

“We had a six on this system in 1987. And it was like $350 million in damage and three direct deaths,” Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones said. “When we’ve modeled what would it be to have a 7.5 on the Puente Hills Thrust, we get 10 times as much damage than we see for a 7.9 on the San Andreas because we have so many more buildings and people on top of an earthquake if it’s Puente Hills.”

“We consider it a dangerous fault, but it’s also a relatively slow moving fault,” Dr. Jones added. “There’s probably going to be 20 San Andreas earthquakes for every one time we have a Puente Hills earthquake.”

Monday’s 4.4 Magnitude earthquake happened in the same area as a 3.4 magnitude earthquake June 2, both produced aftershocks nearby.

Dr. Jones said that doesn’t increase the chances that a bigger one is on the way.

“This is a great reminder that all of Southern California is earthquake country. Every one of us in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area is within five miles of an active fault,” Dr. Jones said. “And which one of those is going to go within our lifetime is random.”

Aquarium of the Pacific Aug 13

Earthquake at the aquarium: Here's how the animals reacted

Southern California Aug 7

Earthquake warning app serves SoCal during Kern County earthquake

“So I would say, if you want to look forward, how do you learn to live with earthquakes? You stop worrying about an individual fault. It’s going to be what it’s going to be,” Dr. Jones said.

Dr. Jones said instead take steps now to get your house ready in case the big one hits.

“Do what you can to make your house safer. I think maybe that’s the final message,” Dr. Jones said. “Remember that most of the damage is preventable, and it’s up to you to do it.”

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“We need to remember that the quiet of the last 25 years is not representative of the long-term Southern California pattern,” the seismologist said during the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Monday. “And we should get used to having more than we’ve seen recently.” 

Jones said young people who were not around during the 1994 Northridge earthquake or those who are new to Southern California should not get comfortable with the recent frequency of quakes. 

“It’s a good reminder that earthquakes are part of our environment,” Jones said. “It’s the reason — Southern California is as beautiful as it is — we need to be ready to experience bigger ones, too.”

To prepare for the next big one, Jones said the first step is to talk to family members and loved ones about a plan.

“Have a communication plan. If the earthquake happens when your kids are at school, do you know what they’re going to do? Do you know what you’re going to do about it? Do you know when you can get to them?” Jones said.

She also urged parents to talk to teens and children about connecting if there is no cell signal after a big earthquake. 

“Having a plan, planning to use texting instead of phone calls when the system’s gonna be overloaded – all of those are really important,” Jones explained.

What is the first thing the respected seismologist would remember when a big one strikes?

“Probably the most important thing is water,” Jones said, explaining that because the water systems are the weakest part of the state’s infrastructure, they are likely to be badly damaged after a disaster like a big tremor. 

“FEMA will bring in water after we lose the water systems. But do you want to go and spend a couple hours standing in line every day to get the water you need for your family? Probably not.”

Southern California Aug 31

Series of earthquakes shake SoCal: Are we prepared for ‘the big one'?

Earthquakes Sep 12

Dozens of aftershocks follow magnitude-4.7 Malibu earthquake

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

“We need to remember that the quiet of the last 25 years is not representative of the long-term Southern California pattern,” the seismologist said during the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Monday. “And we should get used to having more than we’ve seen recently.” 

Jones said young people who were not around during the 1994 Northridge earthquake or those who are new to Southern California should not get comfortable with the recent frequency of quakes. 

“It’s a good reminder that earthquakes are part of our environment,” Jones said. “It’s the reason — Southern California is as beautiful as it is — we need to be ready to experience bigger ones, too.”

To prepare for the next big one, Jones said the first step is to talk to family members and loved ones about a plan.

“Have a communication plan. If the earthquake happens when your kids are at school, do you know what they’re going to do? Do you know what you’re going to do about it? Do you know when you can get to them?” Jones said.

She also urged parents to talk to teens and children about connecting if there is no cell signal after a big earthquake. 

“Having a plan, planning to use texting instead of phone calls when the system’s gonna be overloaded – all of those are really important,” Jones explained.

What is the first thing the respected seismologist would remember when a big one strikes?

“Probably the most important thing is water,” Jones said, explaining that because the water systems are the weakest part of the state’s infrastructure, they are likely to be badly damaged after a disaster like a big tremor. 

“FEMA will bring in water after we lose the water systems. But do you want to go and spend a couple hours standing in line every day to get the water you need for your family? Probably not.”

Southern California Aug 31

Series of earthquakes shake SoCal: Are we prepared for ‘the big one'?

Earthquakes Sep 12

Dozens of aftershocks follow magnitude-4.7 Malibu earthquake

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The temblor, which struck near Mettler in Kern County at 9:09 p.m. on Tuesday occurred at a depth of approximately 7 miles below the Earth’s surface.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), this recent earthquake is classified as “shallow.”

The USGS categorizes earthquake depths into three zones: shallow (0-70 km), intermediate (70-300 km) and deep (300 – 700 km.) 

The earthquake was felt widely across Southern California, with reports coming in from as far south as San Diego, more than 200 miles from the epicenter. And this wide range is related to its shallow depth, according to an expert. 

“The depth definitely influenced how we feel it,” Robert de Groot from USGS ShakeAlert System said. “Shallow earthquakes, like the one we just had, tend to produce stronger shaking at the surface compared to deeper quakes of the same magnitude.”

He also noted that the soft soil in the Los Angeles area can cause the wave to “bounce around,” amplifying the shake. 

“What we feel might be larger than expected,” de Groot said.

Earthquakes Aug 6

5.2-magnitude Kern County earthquake rattles SoCal, more than 50 aftershocks follow

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Phillies defeat Dodgers 6-2 after earthquake felt during the game, Brusdar Graterol lost for season with injury

According to USGS, knowing the depth of an earthquake also helps visualize subduction zones, a boundary where one tectonic plate slides beneath another, providing valuable insights about Earth’s structure and tectonic settings. 

In continental regions like Southern California, earthquakes typically occur in the shallow crust, usually around 10 miles.

“The earthquake (Tuesday) night was fairly common in terms of the depth,” de Groot added.

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The United States Geological Survey reported the temblor at 9:09 p.m. in Mettler in Kern County at a depth of 6 miles.

Residents in Camarillo and Canyon Country reported feeling the earthquake to USGS. On social media, residents in Orange, Reseda, Fontana and even as far south as San Diego reported feeling the jolt.

By Wednesday morning, the USGS reported more than 50 aftershocks ranging from 2.5-magnitude to 4.5-magnitude

According to the agency, Tuesday’s evening was considered shallow since it was at a depth of just 11.7 kilometers. USGS classifies the depth of earthquakes in three zones: shallow, intermediate and deep. Since this temblor was between 0 to 70 kilometers deep, it fell in the shallow zone.

No injuries or structural damage were reported in connection with the earthquake.

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Aftershocks of magnitude-3.5 and 2.8 followed the quake in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County. According to the USGS web site, shaking was felt in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Glendale, Chatsworth, Granada Hills, Chino, Universal City, Claremont and other locations.

The earthquake fault nearest the epicenter is the Calico Fault, which crosses the desert.

There were no immediate reports of damage.

Barstow is about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

The earthquake was reported at 3:31p.m. southwest of Bakersfield with a depth of about 7.5 miles.

Shaking also was reported in Tupman, Shafter, Frazier Park, Lebec, Lindsay, Arvin, Valencia, Santa Clarita, Ventura and Los Angeles County.

The quake, reported at 5:07 a.m. in the community northeast of downtown Los Angeles, caused shaking in Glendale and nearby areas. It was centered 2.7 miles southwest of South Pasadena and 3.1 miles southwest of Alhambra with a depth of about 6 miles.

Shaking also was reported in Whittier, Pasadena, Pacific Palisades, La Canada Flintridge, Encino, Burbank, Azusa, Laguna Hills, Fontana, Ventura and other parts of southern Los Angeles County and the San Gabriel Valley.

“We need to remember that the quiet of the last 25 years is not representative of the long-term Southern California pattern,” the seismologist said during the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Monday. “And we should get used to having more than we’ve seen recently.” 

Jones said young people who were not around during the 1994 Northridge earthquake or those who are new to Southern California should not get comfortable with the recent frequency of quakes. 

“It’s a good reminder that earthquakes are part of our environment,” Jones said. “It’s the reason — Southern California is as beautiful as it is — we need to be ready to experience bigger ones, too.”

To prepare for the next big one, Jones said the first step is to talk to family members and loved ones about a plan.

“Have a communication plan. If the earthquake happens when your kids are at school, do you know what they’re going to do? Do you know what you’re going to do about it? Do you know when you can get to them?” Jones said.

She also urged parents to talk to teens and children about connecting if there is no cell signal after a big earthquake. 

“Having a plan, planning to use texting instead of phone calls when the system’s gonna be overloaded – all of those are really important,” Jones explained.

What is the first thing the respected seismologist would remember when a big one strikes?

“Probably the most important thing is water,” Jones said, explaining that because the water systems are the weakest part of the state’s infrastructure, they are likely to be badly damaged after a disaster like a big tremor. 

“FEMA will bring in water after we lose the water systems. But do you want to go and spend a couple hours standing in line every day to get the water you need for your family? Probably not.”

Southern California Aug 31

Series of earthquakes shake SoCal: Are we prepared for ‘the big one'?

Earthquakes Sep 12

Dozens of aftershocks follow magnitude-4.7 Malibu earthquake

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The quake centered in the Devore area, about 55 miles east of Los Angeles, was at 10:18 a.m.

Shaking was reported in Rancho Cucamonga, Chino, Ontario, Grand Terrace, Bloomington, Crestline and other areas.

The earthquake was reported at 4:52 p.m. just over a mile northeast of Newport Beach, the agency reported. It struck at a depth of 7 miles. An aftershock of magnitude 3.4 occurred at 5:04 p.m. nearly 2 miles northeast of Newport Beach.

Residents of Long Beach, East Los Angeles, Garden Grove and Westminster reported to USGS that they felt the temblor. No injuries or structural damage was reported in connection with the earthquake.

The ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Detection system can detect earthquakes of all sizes, but this update allows the agency to determine the size of the biggest earthquakes faster, so alerts can be sent to people’s phones quicker.

“Seismic stations tell us how fast the ground is moving and these other stations tell us how far it’s moving and by looking at both of them together, we can get a better sense of how those big earthquakes are going to impact a region,” said Robert de Groot, operations team lead for ShakeAlert. “So we have seismometers that pick up the ground motion, we move that information to a processing center in a fraction of a second, we process it, and then we start pushing out the information within seconds to people’s phones.”

De Groot said many factors will go into determining how in advance users will get an alert on their phone

“One of the factors that determines when people get an alert on their phone is how far they are from the epicenter of the earthquake,” de Groot. “Seconds is generally what people will get before they feel that strongest shaking and really that’s as long as it takes for people to take that protective action to drop, cover, and hold on to be safe.”

As the new technology evolves, the ShakeAlert team is also working with hospitals and transportation teams to ensure automated steps are immediately taken too.

“We’re continuing to expand automated actions like slowing down trains, opening firehouse doors, so we’re working LA Metro, Cedar Sinai and other MetroLink as well to take those automated actions to slow down those trains without people being involved,” he said. “A fraction of a section to shut down that generator, and open that firehouse door is going to be valuable. Not just during the earthquake itself, but also after the earthquake is over.”

ShakeAlert early detection technology is now up and down the West Coast and can serve as a safety tool for roughly 50 million permanent residents and tourists. The technology is currently in California, Oregon, and Washington.

The quake shook the Newport Beach area at about 1:45 p.m. Weak to light shaking was reported along the Orange and LA county coasts and in areas inland like Culver City, Lake Elsinore, Irvine, Costa Mesa and other communities.

The quake, reported at about 3:05 p.m., was in roughly the same location as a magnitude-3.5 earthquake on Sunday. Light shaking was reported in parts of Los Angeles.

The USGS recorded three earthquakes in the area since Sunday’s shaking with Tuesday’s being the largest magnitude.

Aftershocks, smaller earthquakes after a larger earthquake or mainshock in the same general area, can occur days and even years after the mainshock. Their frequency decreases over time.

Light shaking was reported in the San Gabriel Valley, widespread parts of Los Angeles, Downey, Whittier, Studio City, Burbank and other parts of Los Angeles County.

According to the USGS, the earthquake had a recorded depth of 11.3 km.

Notable quake, preliminary info: M 3.5 – 4 km SSW of South Pasadena, CA https://t.co/EN5HNPmEtN

— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) June 2, 2024

The earthquake at about 10:30 a.m. was centered northeast of Ojai, about 80 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Shaking was reported in Ventura, Moorpark, Carpinteria, Ojai, Santa Barbara, Santa Paula, Santa Fe Springs, parts of Los Angeles, Porter Ranch and other areas.

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Aug 20, 2023

Magnitude-5.1 earthquake in Ventura County shakes parts of Southern California

The quake was roughly in the same location as August’s magnitude-5.1 ‘hurriquake‘ earthquake. Shaking from that earthquake, which occurred as a weakening storm that was once at hurricane strength moved into the region, was reported in several Ventura County communities, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Frazier Park, Seal Beach and other communities.

Millions of Southern Californian’s received urgent back-to-back emergency alerts on their phones that Sunday. The first indicated a flash flood warning, the second warning of the Ventura County earthquake.

“We need to remember that the quiet of the last 25 years is not representative of the long-term Southern California pattern,” the seismologist said during the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Monday. “And we should get used to having more than we’ve seen recently.” 

Jones said young people who were not around during the 1994 Northridge earthquake or those who are new to Southern California should not get comfortable with the recent frequency of quakes. 

“It’s a good reminder that earthquakes are part of our environment,” Jones said. “It’s the reason — Southern California is as beautiful as it is — we need to be ready to experience bigger ones, too.”

To prepare for the next big one, Jones said the first step is to talk to family members and loved ones about a plan.

“Have a communication plan. If the earthquake happens when your kids are at school, do you know what they’re going to do? Do you know what you’re going to do about it? Do you know when you can get to them?” Jones said.

She also urged parents to talk to teens and children about connecting if there is no cell signal after a big earthquake. 

“Having a plan, planning to use texting instead of phone calls when the system’s gonna be overloaded – all of those are really important,” Jones explained.

What is the first thing the respected seismologist would remember when a big one strikes?

“Probably the most important thing is water,” Jones said, explaining that because the water systems are the weakest part of the state’s infrastructure, they are likely to be badly damaged after a disaster like a big tremor. 

“FEMA will bring in water after we lose the water systems. But do you want to go and spend a couple hours standing in line every day to get the water you need for your family? Probably not.”

Southern California Aug 31

Series of earthquakes shake SoCal: Are we prepared for ‘the big one'?

Earthquakes Sep 12

Dozens of aftershocks follow magnitude-4.7 Malibu earthquake

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

“We need to remember that the quiet of the last 25 years is not representative of the long-term Southern California pattern,” the seismologist said during the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Monday. “And we should get used to having more than we’ve seen recently.” 

Jones said young people who were not around during the 1994 Northridge earthquake or those who are new to Southern California should not get comfortable with the recent frequency of quakes. 

“It’s a good reminder that earthquakes are part of our environment,” Jones said. “It’s the reason — Southern California is as beautiful as it is — we need to be ready to experience bigger ones, too.”

To prepare for the next big one, Jones said the first step is to talk to family members and loved ones about a plan.

“Have a communication plan. If the earthquake happens when your kids are at school, do you know what they’re going to do? Do you know what you’re going to do about it? Do you know when you can get to them?” Jones said.

She also urged parents to talk to teens and children about connecting if there is no cell signal after a big earthquake. 

“Having a plan, planning to use texting instead of phone calls when the system’s gonna be overloaded – all of those are really important,” Jones explained.

What is the first thing the respected seismologist would remember when a big one strikes?

“Probably the most important thing is water,” Jones said, explaining that because the water systems are the weakest part of the state’s infrastructure, they are likely to be badly damaged after a disaster like a big tremor. 

“FEMA will bring in water after we lose the water systems. But do you want to go and spend a couple hours standing in line every day to get the water you need for your family? Probably not.”

Southern California Aug 31

Series of earthquakes shake SoCal: Are we prepared for ‘the big one'?

Earthquakes Sep 12

Dozens of aftershocks follow magnitude-4.7 Malibu earthquake

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The earthquake east of Ontario, about 40 miles east of Los Angeles, was reported at about 11:30 p.m. Light shaking was felt in Ontario, parts of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, the South Bay, Pasadena, Chatsworth, Pomona, San Bernardino, Riverside and other areas.

There were no reports of significant damage.

“We need to remember that the quiet of the last 25 years is not representative of the long-term Southern California pattern,” the seismologist said during the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Monday. “And we should get used to having more than we’ve seen recently.” 

Jones said young people who were not around during the 1994 Northridge earthquake or those who are new to Southern California should not get comfortable with the recent frequency of quakes. 

“It’s a good reminder that earthquakes are part of our environment,” Jones said. “It’s the reason — Southern California is as beautiful as it is — we need to be ready to experience bigger ones, too.”

To prepare for the next big one, Jones said the first step is to talk to family members and loved ones about a plan.

“Have a communication plan. If the earthquake happens when your kids are at school, do you know what they’re going to do? Do you know what you’re going to do about it? Do you know when you can get to them?” Jones said.

She also urged parents to talk to teens and children about connecting if there is no cell signal after a big earthquake. 

“Having a plan, planning to use texting instead of phone calls when the system’s gonna be overloaded – all of those are really important,” Jones explained.

What is the first thing the respected seismologist would remember when a big one strikes?

“Probably the most important thing is water,” Jones said, explaining that because the water systems are the weakest part of the state’s infrastructure, they are likely to be badly damaged after a disaster like a big tremor. 

“FEMA will bring in water after we lose the water systems. But do you want to go and spend a couple hours standing in line every day to get the water you need for your family? Probably not.”

Southern California Aug 31

Series of earthquakes shake SoCal: Are we prepared for ‘the big one'?

Earthquakes Sep 12

Dozens of aftershocks follow magnitude-4.7 Malibu earthquake

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“We need to remember that the quiet of the last 25 years is not representative of the long-term Southern California pattern,” the seismologist said during the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Monday. “And we should get used to having more than we’ve seen recently.” 

Jones said young people who were not around during the 1994 Northridge earthquake or those who are new to Southern California should not get comfortable with the recent frequency of quakes. 

“It’s a good reminder that earthquakes are part of our environment,” Jones said. “It’s the reason — Southern California is as beautiful as it is — we need to be ready to experience bigger ones, too.”

To prepare for the next big one, Jones said the first step is to talk to family members and loved ones about a plan.

“Have a communication plan. If the earthquake happens when your kids are at school, do you know what they’re going to do? Do you know what you’re going to do about it? Do you know when you can get to them?” Jones said.

She also urged parents to talk to teens and children about connecting if there is no cell signal after a big earthquake. 

“Having a plan, planning to use texting instead of phone calls when the system’s gonna be overloaded – all of those are really important,” Jones explained.

What is the first thing the respected seismologist would remember when a big one strikes?

“Probably the most important thing is water,” Jones said, explaining that because the water systems are the weakest part of the state’s infrastructure, they are likely to be badly damaged after a disaster like a big tremor. 

“FEMA will bring in water after we lose the water systems. But do you want to go and spend a couple hours standing in line every day to get the water you need for your family? Probably not.”

Southern California Aug 31

Series of earthquakes shake SoCal: Are we prepared for ‘the big one'?

Earthquakes Sep 12

Dozens of aftershocks follow magnitude-4.7 Malibu earthquake

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The earthquake about 10 a.m. local time was centered 11 miles south of Naalehu, Hawaii, at a depth of 6 miles. No tsunami warning was expected, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Some shaking could be felt in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, according to the USGS Did You Feel It? page. Several aftershocks followed in the same area.

There were no immediate reports of significant damage.

Big Island Mayor Mitch Roth was in Honolulu at a cardiologist appointment.

“All of a sudden I felt like I was getting dizzy,” he said, thinking at first that it was the procedure and then realizing it was an earthquake. He immediately got on the phone with his emergency management officials.

“We’ll probably start hearing about damage in the next hour to an hour,” Roth said, pointing out that it was "a good sized earthquake” and that from what he's heard, there is no tsunami threat.

Roth said he was headed to the Honolulu airport to try to get an earlier flight back to the Big Island.

Julia Neal, the owner of Pahala Plantation Cottages, said a mirror and brass lamp fell down during some forceful shaking. “We have a lot of the old wooden plantations homes and so they were rattling pretty loudly.”

Derek Nelson, the manager of the Kona Canoe Club restaurant in the Kona Inn Shopping Village in the oceanside community of Kona, on the island’s western side, said everyone felt it “big time,” but that there was no damage.

“I mean, it shook us bad to where it wobbled some knees a little bit. It shook all the windows in the village,” he said.

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The temblor struck at 7:43 p.m. about 1.864 miles southwest of San Bernardino. No injuries or structural damage were immediately reported.

“It was close to the surface but also in a populated region, so San Bernardino County has plenty of people so they’re going to feel it, definitely,” said Dr. Allen Husker of CalTech’s Seismological Laboratory.

Residents outside the epicenter reported feeling the jolt, in areas including Burbank, Santa Fe Springs, Chino, Fontana and more.

Timothy Key, who was recording a video at the time, captured the moment the earthquake shook his home.

“Out of nowhere, I just felt this shaking and I’m like, ‘Oh, whoa, what’s going on?’” he said. “I was still recording at the time … it was just chaos.”

“It was like a jolt,” Key said. “It was like the whole house was about to collapse, like it was about to collapse on me. It was kind of scary but we knew it was an earthquake, so it was kind of like, ‘OK, let’s calm down.’”

“We need to remember that the quiet of the last 25 years is not representative of the long-term Southern California pattern,” the seismologist said during the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Monday. “And we should get used to having more than we’ve seen recently.” 

Jones said young people who were not around during the 1994 Northridge earthquake or those who are new to Southern California should not get comfortable with the recent frequency of quakes. 

“It’s a good reminder that earthquakes are part of our environment,” Jones said. “It’s the reason — Southern California is as beautiful as it is — we need to be ready to experience bigger ones, too.”

To prepare for the next big one, Jones said the first step is to talk to family members and loved ones about a plan.

“Have a communication plan. If the earthquake happens when your kids are at school, do you know what they’re going to do? Do you know what you’re going to do about it? Do you know when you can get to them?” Jones said.

She also urged parents to talk to teens and children about connecting if there is no cell signal after a big earthquake. 

“Having a plan, planning to use texting instead of phone calls when the system’s gonna be overloaded – all of those are really important,” Jones explained.

What is the first thing the respected seismologist would remember when a big one strikes?

“Probably the most important thing is water,” Jones said, explaining that because the water systems are the weakest part of the state’s infrastructure, they are likely to be badly damaged after a disaster like a big tremor. 

“FEMA will bring in water after we lose the water systems. But do you want to go and spend a couple hours standing in line every day to get the water you need for your family? Probably not.”

Southern California Aug 31

Series of earthquakes shake SoCal: Are we prepared for ‘the big one'?

Earthquakes Sep 12

Dozens of aftershocks follow magnitude-4.7 Malibu earthquake

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

“I’ve been through earthquakes before. This was different. This was bigger,” American Red Cross volunteer Craig Renetzky said. 

Renetzky said right away his years of safety training kicked in.

“I immediately took the blankets on our bed and threw it over my wife because I knew stuff would be falling,” Renetzky said. 

Their daughter,who was 1-year-old at the time, was in the next room.

“My wife keeps yelling during the shaking ‘the baby, the baby, the baby.’ And we ran into the room and the baby was fast asleep,” Renetzky said.

And even as he surveyed his now uninhabitable condo, he knew he had to get to work.

“It was scary. more than anything as daylight started to rise you could see the damage,” Renetzky said.

At Red Cross headquarters in Van Nuys, Renetzky  started setting up shelter for people in need.

“A lot of people’s homes were destroyed or they were just scared to go back inside,” Renetzky said.

As Red Cross volunteers descended on the most devastated areas, Renetzky organized the disaster relief coming in from outside our area, minute by minute, hour by hour.

“Time just began to compress. It just went on for days and days,” Renetzky said.

But there was also a sense of relief that he had prepared his home.

“I think what saved us to some extent was the preparedness. I have pictures from our house and I can see that the heavy furniture, stuff got knocked off of it but the furniture didn’t collapse on us,” Renetzky said. 

They did keep one particular item from that day, a clock that fell on the floor on which the time reads 4:32.

“The glass didn’t break but the batteries came out. We’ve kept that as a rememberance how lucky we are.A lot of people died in that earthquake,” Renetzky said. 

And now, 30 years later, Renetzky fears people may not be prepared for another Northridge sized quake.

“The danger hasn’t gone away. The faults have not disappeared,” Renetzky said. 

We get these little ones, yeah, I’m concerned. But I do feel reassured that I’m ready for one when it happens,” Renetzky said. Renetzky said we all need to be prepared.

Renetzky’s mother was a Red Cross volunteer and his baby daughter who slept through it all is also a Red Cross volunteer.

Nearly two decades later, the City of Los Angeles passed an ordinance to fully retrofit certain buildings. Other cities like Santa Monica and Pasadena have their own retrofit laws and criteria for compliance.   

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Earthquakes Jan 17

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That could mean installing steel beams or frames or a concrete wall depending on the type of building.    

There are two types of mandatory retrofit programs in the city of Los Angeles and thousands of buildings identified in need of seismic upgrades.   

They are what are known as soft story buildings. An example is a building with open space ground floor parking.  

And then there are non-ductile concrete buildings.  

“Unreinforced concrete buildings is one type of which we have a lot unreinforced masonry buildings or non-ductile masonry buildings is another type. And that includes buildings that are made out of brick, stone, tile or other kinds of materials where you don’t have that resisting systems to resist those sideways motion,” Dr. Monica Kohler from the Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering at the California Institute of Technology told the NBC4 I-Team following the devastating earthquakes in Turkey last year.   

“There are a lot of buildings in those categories that are of concern. On the positive side, there’s now an awareness that that we have these buildings that need to be looked at and they need to be retrofit. So there is good news in that we’re making progress in the retrofitting and the reinforcement that needs to be done,” she added.  

The I-Team reviewed data from the City of Los Angeles to see where that work stands right now.  

More than 12,000 buildings citywide have been deemed “soft story” and in need of upgrades, with 95% having submitted retrofit plans.  

Seventy-five percent of those buildings have obtained certificates of compliance, according to the LA City Department of Building and Safety’s (LADBS) website—that means the work is completely finished.   

Just under 1,200 buildings are part of the non-ductile concrete retrofit program in Los Angeles.  

Sixty-one percent have submitted a checklist to the city for review. A building owner has three years to provide that information after receiving an order to comply, according to the LADBS website.   

Only 11% have submitted proof of previous retrofit or plans to retrofit or demolish the building which the city allows 10 years for that to happen. And 6% have completed construction, according to the city’s website.   

The ordinance requires all non-deductible concrete buildings to be fully retrofitted by 2041.  

The LADBS has a way for you to check buildings you live or work in. You can use their website and type in an address.  

Click the dropdown menu “retrofit program,” and you can see if there is an order to comply and the status of the work.   

The City of Santa Monica has a map where you can check buildings in their city. 

Since 1900, an average of 120 earthquakes per year worldwide are in the magnitude-6.0 to 6.9 range. In 1993, the year before the Northridge quake, shocks in that range numbered 141 worldwide.

For a visualization of just how many earthquakes rival the 1994 Northridge quake in magnitude, click here to view a USGS map. It displays all earthquakes in the magnitude-6.0 to 6.9 range since 1970. 

The list includes the magnitude-6.9 earthquake in Kobe, Japan, which caused devastation on a staggering scale — 5,100 fatalities, 27,000 injures and 100,000 building destroyed.

So the number 6.7 only is part of story of Monday, Jan. 17, 1994.

In the case of the Northridge quake, its location in the vicinity of a built-up metropolis with some vulnerable structures — including residential buildings and freeway overpasses — made it a natural disaster of historic proportions.

The origin was near the intersection of Reseda Boulevard and Arminta Street in the northwest San Fernando Valley on a previously undocumented fault. At a depth of about 10 miles, the quake caused strong ground motion across a widespread part of Southern California.

Earthquakes Jan 16

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Earthquakes Jul 4, 2019

List: Notable Southern California earthquakes since Northridge 1994

The USGS keeps an updated list of “Did You Feel It?” responses here.

A USGS intensity map (below) shows that the strongest shaking, designated in red, was reported in areas north of Los Angeles as the rupture spread in that direction. Residents to the south, including downtown LA and densely popuated areas around it, reported less intense “strong” and “very strong” shaking, denoted by yellow and orange squares.

Most of the damage occurred in communities north of Los Angeles, but there were pockets of hard hit areas, like Sherman Oaks, West Hollywood and even Santa Monica. The seaside community is about 15 miles away from the Northridge earthquake epicenters, but soft soil, Southern California’s fault system and Santa Monica’s older building stock likely all contributed to significant damage.

Reports of damage and casualties developed throughout the first day.

At $20 billion in damage and $49 billion in economic loss, it was the costliest natural disaster ever at the time in the United States, but the damage could have been worse had the rupture spread south toward the more densely populated areas in and around downtown Los Angeles.

At the time, Los Angeles County’s population was an estimated 9 million people. Today, it’s around 10.1 million with nearly 4 million in the city of Los Angeles alone.

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“We need to remember that the quiet of the last 25 years is not representative of the long-term Southern California pattern,” the seismologist said during the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Monday. “And we should get used to having more than we’ve seen recently.” 

Jones said young people who were not around during the 1994 Northridge earthquake or those who are new to Southern California should not get comfortable with the recent frequency of quakes. 

“It’s a good reminder that earthquakes are part of our environment,” Jones said. “It’s the reason — Southern California is as beautiful as it is — we need to be ready to experience bigger ones, too.”

To prepare for the next big one, Jones said the first step is to talk to family members and loved ones about a plan.

“Have a communication plan. If the earthquake happens when your kids are at school, do you know what they’re going to do? Do you know what you’re going to do about it? Do you know when you can get to them?” Jones said.

She also urged parents to talk to teens and children about connecting if there is no cell signal after a big earthquake. 

“Having a plan, planning to use texting instead of phone calls when the system’s gonna be overloaded – all of those are really important,” Jones explained.

What is the first thing the respected seismologist would remember when a big one strikes?

“Probably the most important thing is water,” Jones said, explaining that because the water systems are the weakest part of the state’s infrastructure, they are likely to be badly damaged after a disaster like a big tremor. 

“FEMA will bring in water after we lose the water systems. But do you want to go and spend a couple hours standing in line every day to get the water you need for your family? Probably not.”

Southern California Aug 31

Series of earthquakes shake SoCal: Are we prepared for ‘the big one'?

Earthquakes Sep 12

Dozens of aftershocks follow magnitude-4.7 Malibu earthquake

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The new USGS National Seismic Hazard Model released Tuesday — nearly 30 years to the day of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake in Los Angeles — shows where damaging earthquakes are most likely to occur in the United States. The map is an update to a version released in 2018.

“This was a massive, multi-year collaborative effort between federal, state and local governments and the private sector,” said Mark Petersen, USGS geophysicist and lead author of the study. “The new seismic hazard model represents a touchstone achievement for enhancing public safety.”

Nearly 75 percent of the county could experience a damaging earthquake, according to researchers. The map update is the first comprehensive assessment of all 50 states.

The seismic model was used to make the color-coded map above. The map depicts where damaging earthquakes are most likely to occur using seismic studies, historical geological data and the latest in data-collection technology, which helped researchers identify nearly 500 additional earthquake faults capable of producing a damaging earthquake.

Northridge Jan 17

How to check if your building needs retrofitting for earthquakes   

Earthquakes Jan 17

Maps: See where shaking from the 1994 Northridge Earthquake was most intense

Significant changes in the new model include a chance for greater shaking in California and Alaska, according to the USGS. The new model also shows the possibility of more damaging earthquakes in less seismically active zones like the central and northeastern Atlantic Coast, including f Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York and Boston. Hawaii also has an increased potential for shaking based on observations from recent volcanic eruptions and seismic unrest, the USGS statement said.

“Earthquakes are difficult to forecast but we’ve made great strides with this new model,” said Petersen. “The update includes more faults, better-characterized land surfaces, and computational advancements in modeling that provide the most detailed view ever of the earthquake risks we face.”

The map can provide a guideline for future buildings and those that need retrofitting.

“Efforts to make our buildings enough stronger so that we don’t have to rebuild them is a very small amount of money,” said seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones. “And, retrofitting the older buildings that we know are going to kill people, because the older buildings with problems — we know they’re there. Only some cities have moved to get them strengthened. A lot of people are still living in buildings that we know can kill you.”

Here are some of the key takeaways from the map, according to the USGS:

• Risk to people: Nearly 75% of the U.S. could experience potentially damaging earthquakes and intense ground shaking, putting hundreds of millions of people at risk.
• Widespread hazard: 37 U.S. states have experienced earthquakes exceeding magnitude 5 during the last 200 years, highlighting a long history of seismic activity across this country.
• Structural implications: The updated model will inform the future of building and structural design, offering critical insights for architects, engineers, and policymakers on how structures are planned and constructed across the U.S.
• Unified approach: This marks the first National Seismic Hazard Model to encompass all 50 states simultaneously, reflecting a massive collaborative effort with federal, state, and local partners.
• Not a prediction: No one can predict earthquakes. However, by investigating faults and past quakes, scientists can better assess the likelihood of future earthquakes and how intense their shaking might be.

The quake was centered about 25 miles south of San Clemente Island and 60 miles south of Avalon, on the southern end of Santa Catalina Island. It’s depth was at 13 miles.

Shaking was reported at about 2:44 a.m. in Los Angeles, Redondo Beach, Paramount and other nearby communities.

There were no reports of damage or injuries.

San Clemente Island is the southernmost island in the Channel Islands chain off California. It is about 60 miles off San Diego.

Correction: A previous version of this article identified Santa Catalina Island as the southernmost island in the Channel Islands chain. The southernmost island is San Clemente Island.

The quake was centered in the San Bernardino County community of Lytle Creek, located in the San Gabriel Mountains about 60 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. The quake was initially reported at magnitude-4.6, but later downgraded to 4.2

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There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Shaking was reported across a widespread area, including Long Beach, Carson, parts of the San Fernando Valley, Riverside, San Bernardino and portions of Orange County.

The quake was centered near where the San Andreas and San Jacinto earthquake faults come together.

The area was the site of a magnitude-5.2 earthquake in 1970. The main quake came 20 minutes after a magnitude-4.1 foreshock. The shaking knocked a radio station off the air and triggered mudslides and rockfalls that blocked roads.

The devastating magnitude-6.5 San Fernando Earthquake (aka Sylmar Earthquake) occurred five months later.

Aftershocks continued to shake Ishikawa prefecture and nearby areas a day after a magnitude 7.6 temblor slammed the area on Monday afternoon.

Thirty people were confirmed dead in Ishikawa, officials said. Fourteen others were seriously injured, while damage to homes was so great that it could not immediately be assessed, they said.

Japanese media reports said tens of thousands of homes were destroyed. Government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi said 17 people were seriously injured and gave a slightly lower death tally, while saying he was aware of the prefecture’s tally.

Water, power and cellphone service were still down in some areas, and residents expressed sorrow about their destroyed homes and uncertain futures.

“It’s not just that it’s a mess. The wall has collapsed, and you can see through to the next room. I don’t think we can live here anymore,” Miki Kobayashi, an Ishikawa resident, said as she swept around her house.

Their house was also damaged in a 2007 quake, she said.

Japan’s military dispatched 1,000 soldiers to the disaster zones to join rescue efforts, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday.

“Saving lives is our priority and we are fighting a battle against time,” he said. “It is critical that people trapped in homes get rescued immediately.”

A quake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 shook the Ishikawa area as he was speaking.

Firefighters were able to bring a fire under control in Wajima city which had reddened the sky with embers and smoke.

Nuclear regulators said several nuclear plants in the region were operating normally. A major quake and tsunami in March 2011 caused three reactors to melt and release large amounts of radiation at a nuclear plant in northeastern Japan.

News videos showed rows of collapsed houses. Some wooden structures were flattened and cars were overturned. Half-sunken ships floated in bays where tsunami waves had rolled in, leaving a muddied coastline.

On Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a major tsunami warning for Ishikawa and lower-level tsunami warnings or advisories for the rest of the western coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu, as well as for the northern island of Hokkaido.

The warning was downgraded several hours later, and all tsunami warnings were lifted as of early Tuesday. Waves measuring more than one meter (3 feet) hit some places.

The agency warned that more major quakes could hit the area over the next few days.

People who were evacuated from their houses huddled in auditoriums, schools and community centers. Bullet trains in the region were halted, but service was mostly restored by Tuesday afternoon. Sections of highways were closed.

Weather forecasters predicted rain, setting off worries about already crumbling buildings and infrastructure.

The region includes tourist spots famous for lacquerware and other traditional crafts, along with designated cultural heritage sites.

U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement that his administration was “ready to provide any necessary assistance for the Japanese people.”

Japan is frequently hit by earthquakes because of its location along the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.

Over the last day, the nation has experienced about a hundred aftershocks.

Kageyama reported from Tokyo.

The quake was centered about 3.2 miles east of the census-designated place Boonville and about 36.7 miles west of the City of Clearlake. 

No other information was immediately available.

BAY AREA QUAKE CENTRAL
You can take steps to plan and prepare for the next big one. Access our Bay Area Quake Tracker, the latest earthquake stories, extensive quake prep checklists, videos and many other disaster preparedness resources all in one place: NBCBAYAREA.COM/QUAKES

The 6.2-magnitude quake struck a remote mountainous area between Gansu and Qinghai provinces on Dec. 18, reducing homes to rubble and triggering heavy mudslides that inundated two villages in Qinghai province.

State broadcaster CCTV said Monday the death toll in Donghai city in Qinghai has risen by one, to 32, and rescuers were still searching for two missing people. In neighboring Gansu, authorities had reported 117 dead.

Nearly 1,000 were injured and more than 14,000 homes were destroyed in China’s deadliest earthquake in nine years.

Primary schools in Jishishan county in Gansu resumed classes in tents on Monday, state media reported. Local authorities said they would use the upcoming winter break to repair damaged schools and erect temporary structures so that classes could resume as normal in the spring semester.

Authorities also rushed to erect temporary housing units for survivors facing temperatures well below freezing. CGTN, the state broadcaster’s international arm, said the first batch of 500 temporary housing units had been built for residents in Meipo, a village in Gansu, on Friday night.

More than 87,000 people have been resettled after the quake.

The tremor caused economic losses estimated to be worth tens of millions of dollars in the agricultural and fisheries industries, according to state media.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Saturday visited several villages in Gansu and a county in Qinghai and urged authorities to improve living conditions for the survivors, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Li said the top priority of relief efforts was to make sure people stay warm and safe in winter.

Funerals were held throughout the week, some following the Muslim traditions of much of the population in the affected area.

Most of China’s earthquakes strike in the western part of the country, including Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, as well as the Xinjiang region and Tibet.

The country’s deadliest earthquake in recent years was a 7.9-magnitude tremor in 2008 that left nearly 90,000 dead or presumed dead and devastated towns and schools in Sichuan province, leading to a yearslong effort to rebuild with more resistant materials.

The quake was reported around 9:52 p.m. in Huntington Beach, according to USGS. The agency said it happened about 3 kilometers southeast of the city.

Social media users reported feeling the jolt in Costa Mesa, Long Beach, Garden Grove and surrounding areas. No injuries or structural damages have been reported in connection with the temblor.

The magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck just before midnight on Monday, injuring more than 700 people, damaging roads and knocking out power and communication lines in Gansu and Qinghai provinces, officials and Chinese media reports said.

As emergency workers searched for the missing in collapsed buildings and at least one landslide, people who lost their homes were preparing to spend a cold winter night in tents at hastily erected evacuation sites.

“I just feel anxious, what other feelings could there be?” said Ma Dongdong, who said in a phone interview that three bedrooms in his house had been destroyed and a part of his milk tea shop was cracked wide open.

Afraid to return home because of aftershocks, he spent the night in a field with his wife, two children and some neighbors, where they made a fire to stay warm. In the early morning, they went to a tent settlement that Ma said was housing about 700 people. As of mid-afternoon, they were waiting for blankets and warm clothing to arrive.

The earthquake struck at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) in Gansu’s Jishishan county, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the provincial boundary with Qinghai, the China Earthquake Networks Center said. The United States Geological Survey measured the magnitude at 5.9.

State broadcaster CCTV said 113 were confirmed dead in Gansu and another 536 injured in the province. Thirteen others were killed and 182 injured in Qinghai, in an area north of the epicenter, a local Communist Party official said at a news conference.

There were nine aftershocks by 10 a.m. — about 10 hours after the initial earthquake — the largest one registering a magnitude of 4.1, the Gansu official said.

Emergency authorities in Gansu issued an appeal for 300 additional workers for search and rescue operations, and Qinghai officials reported 20 people missing in a landslide, according to Chinese state-owned media.

The earthquake was felt in much of the surrounding area, including Lanzhou, the Gansu provincial capital, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) northeast of the epicenter. Photos and videos posted by a student at Lanzhou University showed students hastily leaving a dormitory building and standing outside with long down jackets over their pajamas.

“The earthquake was too intense,” said Wang Xi, the student who posted the images. “My legs went weak, especially when we ran downstairs from the dormitory.”

The death toll was the highest since an August 2014 quake that killed 617 people in southwest China's Yunnan province. The country's deadliest earthquake in recent years was a 7.9 magnitude quake in 2008 that left nearly 90,000 dead or presumed dead and devastated towns and schools in Sichuan province, leading to a yearslong effort to rebuild with more resistant materials.

Li Haibing, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, said that the relatively high number of casualties in the latest quake was in part because it was shallow. “Therefore, it has caused greater shaking and destruction, even though the magnitude was not large,” he said.

Other factors include the quake's mainly vertical movement, which causes more violent shaking; the lower quality of buildings in what is a relatively poor area; and the fact that it happened in the middle of the night when most people were home, Li said.

The epicenter was about 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) southwest of Beijing, the Chinese capital. The remote and mountainous area is home to several predominantly Muslim ethnic groups and near some Tibetan communities. Geographically, it is in the center of China, though the area is commonly referred to as the northwest, as it is at the northwestern edge of China’s more populated plains.

Tents, folding beds and quilts were being sent to the disaster area, state broadcaster CCTV said. It quoted Chinese leader Xi Jinping as calling for an all-out search and rescue effort to minimize the casualties.

The overnight low in the area was minus 15 to minus 9 degrees Celsius (5 to 16 degrees Fahrenheit), the China Meteorological Administration said. The Beijing Youth Daily, a Communist Party newspaper, quoted an unnamed rescue coordinator saying there was a need for generators, long coats and fuel for stoves, among other items. The coordinator recommended sending halal food because of the ethnic makeup of the affected population.

At least 4,000 firefighters, soldiers and police officers were dispatched in the rescue effort, and the People's Liberation Army Western Theatre set up a command post to direct its work.

A video posted by the Ministry of Emergency Management showed emergency workers in orange uniforms using rods to try to move heavy pieces of what looked like concrete debris at night. Other nighttime videos distributed by state media showed workers lifting out a victim and helping a slightly stumbling person to walk in an area covered with light snow.

Two residents of Jishishan county told The Associated Press that there were cracks in their walls but that their buildings did not collapse. They were unsure whether it was safe to stay in their homes and figuring out where to spend the night.

Middle school student Ma Shijun ran out of his dormitory barefoot without even putting on a coat, according to a Xinhua report. It said the strong tremors left his hands a bit numb, and that teachers quickly organized the students on the playground.

Earthquakes are somewhat common in the mountainous area of western China that rises up to form the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau.

In September 2022, 93 people were killed in a 6.8 magnitude earthquake that shook China’s southwestern province of Sichuan, triggering landslides and shaking buildings in the provincial capital of Chengdu, where 21 million residents were under a COVID-19 lockdown.

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Associated Press researchers Wanqing Chen and Yu Bing contributed to this report.

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The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake occurred at about 2:03 p.m. local time at a spot near Chiautla de Tapia, a rural village about 125 miles south of Mexico City in Puebla state.

The head of the federal civil defense agency said there were no immediate reports of damage anywhere around Chiautla. Acting Mexico City Mayor Martí Batres said there were no immediate reports of any damage or injuries in the capital.

The tremor set off the Mexico City earthquake alarm system and people left apartment and office buildings in neighborhoods across the city. Groups of office workers gathered on sidewalks along the city’s downtown Reforma boulevard.

Shaking was reported in Mexico City and the surrounding region.

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The epicenter was reported to be about 1.2 miles east of Fullerton and struck at approximately 8:09 p.m.

The earthquake had a depth of 6.6 miles, according to USGS.

Fullerton is about 27 miles away from downtown Los Angeles.

The quake struck at a depth of 32 kilometers (20 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially said that based on the magnitude and location, it expected tsunami waves to hit the southern Philippines and parts of Indonesia, Palau and Malaysia. But the center later dropped its tsunami warning.

In Japan, authorities issued evacuation orders in various parts of Okinawa Prefecture, including for the entire coastal area, affecting thousands of people.

Teresito Bacolcol, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, told The Associated Press his agency advised residents along the coast of southern Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental provinces to immediately evacuate to higher ground or move farther inland.

Owners of boats in harbors, estuaries or shallow coastal waters off the two provinces should secure their boats and move away from the waterfront, the quake agency said in its tsunami warning. Boats already at sea should stay offshore in deep waters until further advised, it said.

Based on the quake’s magnitude, Bacolcol said a 1-meter (3.2-foot) tsunami may hit but the wave could be higher in enclosed coves, bays and straits.

Villagers were fleeing their homes to safety around midnight in Hinatuan town and outlying areas in Surigao del Sur province, according to authorities and the government’s disaster-response agency, which said that it could not immediately provide specific details.

Pictures posted on Hinatuan government’s Facebook account show residents fleeing to higher ground on foot or aboard cars, trucks, motorcycles and tricycle taxis at night.

More than three hours after the quake hit, Bacolcol said there was no report of a tsunami hitting the coast from his agency’s field offices but added authorities would continue monitoring.

The Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, is often hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults around the ocean. The archipelago is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and storms each year.

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The largest quake hit about 7 miles from Ocotillo at 11:43 p.m. Thursday and was about 5.5 miles deep, the agency reported. I

“An earthquake close to M5 is big enough to be felt over 200-300 km (120-180 miles),” the USGS said in a post on X.

The temblor was considered significant due to a combination of factors, including the intensity it was felt by people in the area. USGS’s user-generated “Did You Feel It” tool collects reports of shaking near earthquakes. The quake was felt across San Diego, as far east as Yuma and as far north as Oxnard and Victorville, according to the tool. People also reported feeling shaking across the border in Mexicali and Ensenada.

The large temblor was preceded by a 3.3 magnitude quake 10 minutes earlier.

At 2:40 a.m., a shallow 2.6 magnitude earthquake struck in the same area.

The next quake came at 5:12 a.m. with a magnitude of 3.4 and a depth of about 4 miles. At 7:43 a.m., a 2.6 magnitude earthquake was followed by minutes later by a 3.5 magnitude quake.

There were no immediate reports of damage in the area.

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Standard in Putnam County, is approximately 100 miles southwest of Chicago.

According to a USGS map of the quake, residents in Ottawa, Streator, Pontiac and Springfield may have felt the impact. Additionally, some in Aurora and DeKalb County also reported feeling the impact, the USGS said.

A 3.6 magnitude earthquake ranks as a “light” earthquake on the USGS intensity scale, which means residents in the area may have felt a “light” shaking. According to the USGS, an earthquake with “light” perceived shaking is not expected to create damage. “Light” ranks as level three on the nine-level USGS scale.

A report from the Associated Press said administrative Lt. Doug Bernabei with the Peru Police Department, located several miles north of Standard, said he was up making coffee when his house shook. Suspecting it might be a quake, he turned on his police radio and heard numerous calls coming into 911 dispatch from residents.

“We received voluminous amounts of 911 calls. It was literally one call after another,” he said. “It shook my house. It wasn’t a rattle, I thought something hit the house. A lot of people were waking up.”

How common are earthquakes in Illinois?

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security says Illinois is “at risk from two major seismic zones,” which include the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone and the New Madrid Seismic Zone.

“The Wabash Valley Zone is located between southeastern Illinois and southwestern Indiana,” the office said. “The NMSZ is located in the Central Mississippi Valley and includes portions of the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee. During any 50-year time span, there is a 25% to 40% chance of a magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquake in this seismic zone.”

While southern Illinois often sees earthquakes, northern Illinois doesn’t get many, NBC 5 Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes said. A USGS map of the recent earthquakes in Illinois show a large number of earthquakes concentrated in central and southern Illinois, with some scattered across northern Illinois.

One of the largest earthquakes in Illinois according to the map was in May of 1909, when a 5.1 magnitude earthquake registered the Chicago suburb of Lockport.

The 13 bodies were carried on Sunday to the banks of the Bheri River and placed on pyres made of stacked wood. Priests chanted Hindu prayers while family members cried as they covered the bodies of loved ones with flowers before setting them on fire in a cremation ceremony.

All 13 were from Chiuri village in Jajarkot district, which authorities said was the epicenter of the quake, and where at least 105 people were confirmed dead. Another 52 were killed in the neighboring Rukum district, officials said. Some 184 people were injured.

Most of the houses in Jajarkot — usually made by stacking rocks and logs — either collapsed or were severely damaged by the sudden earthquake, while the few concrete houses in towns were also damaged. The majority of those killed were crushed by debris.

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Thousands spent Saturday night in the bitter cold.

People used whatever they could find to set up shelter for the night, using plastic sheets and old clothes to keep them warm. Most people have been unable to retrieve their belongings from under the rubble.

Many were looking to the government for help.

“Our situation has gotten so worse that we do not even have anything left to eat. Whatever food we had is buried underneath the rubble of our fallen house,” Samkhana Bika, who had lost her home, said Sunday.

Her house at Chepare village had fallen. She sat around a fire near their fallen home to keep warm with her six family members.

“Someone else gave us some rice, a little oil and some salt out of which we made a stew last night and ate that,” she said.

Nepal’s government said it is trying to get aid to the affected areas.

A cabinet meeting held on Sunday announced that aid would be immediately transported. Minister Rekha Sharma told reporters that supplying food and setting up temporary shelters were the main focus while working on plans to reconstruct damaged houses.

As rescuers were scrambling to rush aid, operations were hampered by the fact that many of the mountainous villages could only be reached by foot. Roads were also blocked by landslides triggered by the earthquake. Soldiers could be seen trying to clear the blocked roads.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 and occurred at a depth of 11 miles. Nepal’s National Earthquake Monitoring & Research Center confirmed the epicenter was in Jajarkot, which is about 250 miles northeast of the capital, Kathmandu.

At the regional hospital in the city of Nepalgunj, more than 100 beds were made available and teams of doctors stood by to help the injured.

“My arms are totally broken, I have injuries in my head and my back hurts but thankfully it is not fractured. It was hurt when I had bent down and had firewood fall on my back,” said Kunjan Pun on Sunday from a hospital bed where she is waiting for surgery.

Apart from rescue helicopters, small government and army planes able to land in the short mountain strips were also used to ferry the wounded to Nepalgunj.

The quake, which hit when many people were already asleep in their homes, was also felt in India’s capital, New Delhi, more than 500 miles away.

Earthquakes are common in mountainous Nepal. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2015 killed some 9,000 people and damaged about 1 million structures.

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Associated Press Television cameraman Upendra Man Singh contributed to this report.