4.1 Earthquake Felt Across Southern California, Centered Near Malibu
Strongest Shaking Felt in Malibu, Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, and Camarillo
The strongest shaking was felt in parts of Malibu, Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, and Camarillo, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The strongest shaking was considered “light” as defined by the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale — enough to rattle dishes and windows and feel like a truck has struck a building.
Weak Shaking Felt Across Wider Area
Weak shaking may have been felt across a wider swath of the Southland, including downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach, the San Gabriel Valley, the Santa Clarita Valley, Simi Valley, Oxnard, and Ventura.
Multiple Earthquakes Strike in Quick Succession
The earthquake hit on Sunday at 1:03 p.m. It was followed by a magnitude 2.5 earthquake a minute later, and magnitude 3 and magnitude 2.8 aftershocks at 1:07 p.m.
No Immediate Reports of Damage
There were no immediate reports of damage.
Epicenter Located in Santa Monica Mountains
The epicenter was in the Santa Monica Mountains, about 3 miles northwest of El Matador State Beach and 3.5 miles northeast of Leo Carrillo State Beach. The epicenter was 7 miles southwest of Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village.
Residents Describe Shaking
In Westlake Village, people felt a roll and shake over about five seconds. Residents in Reseda felt a steady shake. In Redondo Beach, the shaking felt like a long rumble; in Windsor Hills, the quake felt like a long, slow roll. Someone in Torrance felt two jolts, and near Los Angeles International Airport, the earthquake felt like a brief sway.
One person in downtown L.A. described a long but gentle shake.
Seismic Activity on the Rise in Southern California
Southern California has been experiencing a number of moderate earthquakes since 2024. For all of 2024, Southern California had experienced 15 seismic sequences with at least one magnitude 4 or higher earthquake, according to the count of seismologist Lucy Jones, a Caltech research associate. That’s the highest annual total in the last 65 years, surpassing the 13 seen in 1988.
Sunday’s earthquake was the first magnitude 4 earthquake for Southern California so far in 2025, Jones said Sunday.
Experts Warn of Next Devastating Earthquake
Experts have cautioned for months that the latest quakes don’t provide any additional clarity on the timing of Southern California’s next devastating earthquake.
“Seismologists have spent decades trying to read the tea leaves to look for patterns. The seismic network was installed in Southern California 100 years ago because scientists thought that small earthquakes would show patterns before the big earthquakes happened. And that just didn’t work out,” said Susan Hough, seismologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, a few months ago.
Conclusion
The 4.1 earthquake centered near Malibu sent light and weak shaking across Southern California, with the strongest shaking felt in parts of Malibu, Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, and Camarillo. While there were no reports of damage, the earthquake was part of a trend of increased seismic activity in Southern California, with 15 seismic sequences with at least one magnitude 4 or higher earthquake in 2024, the highest annual total in 65 years.
FAQs
Q: Where was the epicenter of the earthquake located?
A: The epicenter was in the Santa Monica Mountains, about 3 miles northwest of El Matador State Beach and 3.5 miles northeast of Leo Carrillo State Beach.
Q: How strong was the shaking?
A: The strongest shaking was considered “light” as defined by the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, enough to rattle dishes and windows and feel like a truck has struck a building.
Q: Were there any reports of damage?
A: No, there were no immediate reports of damage.
Q: Is this part of a larger trend of seismic activity in Southern California?
A: Yes, Southern California has been experiencing a number of moderate earthquakes since 2024, with 15 seismic sequences with at least one magnitude 4 or higher earthquake in 2024, the highest annual total in 65 years.
