Malibu felt a shake-up this past Monday with a magnitude 3.3 earthquake, reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. The tremors occurred at approximately 2:23 a.m., stirring not just the coastal city but neighboring communities, including Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, and Calabasas. There were no immediate reports of damage but over 130 people reached out to USGS Felt Report confirming they felt the quake. Echoed from the previous day's 4.1 magnitude earthquake, it seems the earth beneath Malibu is not quite ready to settle.
This 3.3 magnitude quake follows on the heels of Sunday's more forceful 4.1 shaker. According to KTLA's coverage, the earlier earthquake was "widely felt in the L.A. region," with some of the most significant shaking reported in the areas of Malibu, Agoura Hills, and Thousand Oaks. The smaller 1.3 magnitude earthquake that struck three minutes after Monday's shake seems almost a whisper in comparison.
The sequence of earthquakes, which included those with estimated magnitudes of 2.5, 3.0, and 2.8, as noted by seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones to CBS Los Angeles, suggests a period of noteworthy seismic activity in the Malibu region. It's a humbling reminder of California's geological complexities, where thousands of earthquakes, mostly minor, are recorded each year.
Regarding safety during such unnerving times, Californians are reminded of the "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" protocol advised by the California Department of Public Health. This simple guidance can make a difference in the midst of a quake: Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck with an arm, and hold on to your shelter until the shaking ceases. Such measures, while remarkably straightforward, are vital as the state of California finds itself second only to Alaska in terms of annual earthquake frequency in North America, a distinction noted by KTLA.
