A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 4.6 and centered near Malibu gave a jarring shake to much of the Southern California on Friday, but there were no initial reports of damage or injuries.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake struck at 1:47 p.m. about 8 miles west of Malibu, near Pacific Highway at the Ventura County line. It was followed in minutes by two large aftershocks.
The Los Angeles County fire and sheriff’s departments said there were no immediate reports of injuries or property damage.
According to the USGS “Did You Feel It?” map online, people as far north as Bakersfield and as far south as Chula Vista reported feeling the shaking. Some residents reported that it was felt for between five and eight seconds.
Earthquake expert Lucy Jones said the quake was not due to the recent torrential rains that soaked the area, noting that it occurred at a depth of more than 8 miles. She also said it was not related to a 5.7-magnitude quake that occurred earlier in the day in Hawaii.
City News Service contributed to this article.
