(Scypre.com) – A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck Los Angeles County on Monday, causing significant shaking across the region and rattling residents from San Diego County to Victorville and Redlands. The quake, which hit at approximately 12:20 p.m., was initially reported as a 4.7 magnitude before being downgraded by the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter was located in Highland Park, at a depth of nearly six miles.
Although there were no reports of major injuries or widespread damage, the shaking was intense enough to be felt across a vast area. Residents near the epicenter shared videos capturing the moment the quake hit, with many describing the experience as frightening. “It was very, very scary,” said Kyle Shearer of Highland Park. “It’s not my first, but it’s probably the scariest I’ve had in a long time.”
Christine Chandler, a professor at the Martha Fuerst School of Nursing in Glendale, described the quake as a “jolt” that caused violent shaking. “It wasn’t those nice roll-y ones we get. I had to hold on to the door jamb,” she recalled.
In response to the earthquake, both the Los Angeles County and City Fire Departments activated earthquake mode to assess the region for potential damage, particularly to infrastructure. Los Angeles City Fire concluded its assessment at 1:15 p.m. without finding any significant damage. However, in Pasadena, minor damage was reported, including a broken pipe at Pasadena City Hall, which led to a water leak and the evacuation of around 200 employees.
Pasadena Fire Department Deputy Chief Anthony James explained that the water leak was caused by a sprinkler head breaking at the top of the city hall rotunda. Firefighters were able to shut off the water supply, and the building was cleared of other hazards. Additionally, one person was temporarily trapped in an elevator but was quickly freed by firefighters. The department also investigated a potential gas line break but had not confirmed if it was related to the earthquake.
James, who experienced the quake while driving, described feeling a strong jolt that made it seem as though “the whole ground was going away from under me.” The Pasadena Fire Department quickly went into earthquake mode, deploying firefighters to survey the area. No other major issues were found.
Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones noted that the shaking from this earthquake felt stronger to many Southern Californians compared to other recent quakes, despite its relatively moderate magnitude. She explained that this was due to the earthquake occurring in a densely populated area, making the effects more noticeable. “There’s a lot of people on top of this earthquake,” Jones said. The exact fault responsible for the earthquake is difficult to determine due to the complex network of buried faults in the area, but Jones indicated that it may be related to the same fault system involved in the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake.