Earthquake rattles Los Angeles area [UPDATED]

An earthquake centered about a mile south of San Bernardino jolted Southern California briefly about 7:50 p.m. Thursday evening, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and the Southern California Earthquake Center. It was estimated to be about magnitude 4.5.

The quake was felt in downtown Los Angeles, parts of the High Desert, San Pedro and coastal and inland Orange County, but was not felt as far south as San Diego. There were no immediate reports of damage, according to authorities.

"We felt the jolt, whatever time it came in, but we haven’t had any reports of damages yet," said Rancho Cucamonga Fire Capt. Ty Harris, whose station was built more than 50 years ago. "Our building is fairly old, and cinderblock, and it shook pretty good here," he said.

Closer to the origin of the quake, Cal State San Bernardino professor Dale Sechrest said, the shaking lasted roughly 15 seconds. “Nothing fell over, nothing fell off the shelves,” he said.

"Wow, we heard rumbling noise before the shock waves hit our home in Ontario," one reader wrote on a San Bernardino Sun message board.

The shaking was lighter -- but still strong -- in Orange County. "We felt it here in Yorba Linda. Shook the house for about 5-6 seconds. Nothing much except rattling but clearly an earthquake," a reader said on The Times' quake report board.

The USGS originally believed the quake measured 5.0. But officials later downgraded it to 4.5.

Earthquake experts have long said San Bernardino is particularly vulnerable to a massive temblor -- the type many times stronger than Thursday's quake.

San Bernardino lies between two of the state’s most active earthquake faults, the San Andreas and the San Jacinto. Moreover, much of the city was built above a huge underground water basin.

Experts say this loose soil could liquefy in the event of a massive quake, causing buildings to topple. As of 2005, about 100 unreinforced masonry buildings in the city lacked any form of retrofitting, according to city and state records.

Did you feel it?  Go to The Times' quake report board to leave your comments.  Or visit the USGS site for the official quake report and map of the shake zone.

-- Monte Morin

Photo: A southern California quake rattles the shelves at a local Aaron Brothers. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Deana]

I felt it in San Diego- It was like a 3-4 rolling motions, not too bad

[Sam]

I was at a busy restaurant in Dowtown LA and I didn't feel it.

[7th Greatest Guitarist in the world]

I was at the Walmart in Colton at the time. I thought i was going to die with a bunch of CRACK HEADS! NOT GOOD TIMES! I WOULD MUCH RATHER DIE SOMEWHERE ELSE! I HAD NOWHERE TO DUCK!

[honk honk]

i was smoking crack at the time and thought i was just tripping out. I was so confused when my glass pipe rolled and rattled around on the table. I thought it might have been a premonition or something. I am so happy it was an earthquake. i love earthquakes they are funny!

[Maggie]

I was talking to my friend on the phone about the Costa Rican earthquake that happened out there. She was not able to get a hold of her family, and was a bit concerned, when while we were talking it rattled out here in Azusa. We felt it. It was just too weird. No damages, just some rattled nerves.

[Giselle]

Earthquake was DEFINITELY felt here in San Diego!

[Jorge]

I was at Staples Center watching the Kings play host to the Ducks and we felt some pretty sharp jolts. Everyone in the arena felt it, but no one panic. The overhead lights swayed for a couple of minutes. What an experience!

[Transplant from the Midwest]

I live in Escondido. Felt it. 3-4 second rumble. As if a Mac truck drove by is all. Not scared. Haven't been through a really bad one yet since I've been here. Been through 2 major fires though.

[Theresa Black]

I felt it in Downtown Long Beach.

[s.n.]

Felt it in santa monica

[Jules]

In Pedro, while watching the Gator game, our daughter felt it, but then we thought it was the dryer vibrating....

[La Sonidera Americana]

I felt it in Santa Ana. I was in the second floor of my loft listening to music with my headphones on and I felt the chair I was sitting on slightly rolling. It was more of a swaying but enough to realize it was an earthquake. Nothing fell off the shelves. My partner was in the first floor watching a movie with the dogs and didn't feel anything.

[Don]

In Stanton, the quake started gradually, more like the trembling when a big truck passes nearby. Then a stronger shake, enough to make you look around and take notice. Nothing truly alarming but even little ones make you think...

[CK]

I felt it in Southern OC too! It was so mild that I thought it was my dog. He was licking his paws (I guess he thinks he's a cat?) at my feet and I thought the motion was pushing the couch!

[David]

Felt nothing walking in downtown LA.

[Cherie]

I felt it big time and it felt bigger than a 4.5.

[Josh]

This article says it wasn't felt in San Diego. I live in San Diego and we felt it for sure!

[Sioux Falls]

I thought it was much higher than 4.5. I'm in Indio.

[valita]

here in hollywood..
i wasn`t sure untill my friend texted me if i felt it...

[Angelina E. Navarro]

I live in Oceanside, CA (San Diego County) and I felt the earthquake and enough to get me dizzy. I also heard rumbbling while it was happening.

[Dan De Sousa]

I was able to feel the quake at my house in Fallbrook near Oceanside

[Dodger Tony]

I was on the phone in my third floor apartment here in Hollywood. Suddenly my cats jumped under the bed and I felt really dizzy. It was more of a swaying motion and was followed by a smaller tremor moments later. I figured the epicenter was located somewhere in the high desert. No damage or injuries here. Nothing fell over. I did go to Kaiser to get my Lorazapam refilled however. Tremors indeed.

[Gstepp]

We felt the quake here in Apple Valley

[Priscila]

Few seconds of rattling and shifting was felt in Hemet, CA. It was scary but thank God, no damage at all

[S Davis]

I felt the quake in San Diego just north of MCAS Miramar. My office building creaked a little and humped around for about 10 seconds.

[TD]

i felt it here in Eagle Rock. mild and lasted about five seconds.

[Annie huxley]

Earthquake was felt in San diego

[Sheri]

You guys haven't lived until you've ridden one of these things through in a mobile home! A 4.5 feels like a 7! Nothing fell.. but then that haunting question hits you... is this a pre-shock?!

[blondk8]

I felt it down close to the ocean, on Newport Coast Drive, just a gentle swaying for about a minute..and then it was over.

[Carlos M]

Didn't feel anything in Bell Gardens / Downey area. My dogs didn't even seem to feel it.

[blondk8]

I felt it down close to the ocean, on Newport Coast Drive, just a gentle swaying for about a minute..and then it was over.

[Lucy]

We live in San Pedro california and at 7:52 pm we felt the earthquake. We cant believe we could tell there was an earthquake when it was so far away.

[Joey]

I live in Huntington Park and I felt the earthquake. It was mild, lasted about 3-4 seconds, I was waiting for a bigger stronger one. But good thing it didn't happen.

[XiangShu]

We felt it here in Irvine!

[Adrian]

We are staying at the Renaissance in Hollywood and felt the rattle in our hotel room. My bed shook for about 1 second. The last time I was in LA 15 years ago, there was a 7 aftershock.

[A day]

hell yeh i did ,,, am over here at NBC burbank ,,,man i was alomst like thast it THIS IS THE ONE. THINK GOD

[reg park]

It started out as a soft rumbling here in Riverside, then a small jolt than quickly dissipated - no great shakes (!)
My kids got a kick out of it - no damage, wife wife stayed asleep... overall a nice little shake - much fun......

[Nathan & Teresa]

We felt it in Whittier. The computer monitor and tv screen shook and heard cracking sounds. The shower sliding doors rattled too.

[QuakeInBoots]

Yes- I felt it in So OC and it was a slight roll for a few seconds.
Nothing too big but enough to give me a good scare.

[emmanuel]

i felt it

[Patricia]

It shook quite a bit in the High Desert.

[Paul N]

Felt it shake a little in Lake Forest (92610) tonight.

[Aaron]

Didn't feel it or didn't notice. 5.0 is a bit of a rocker. Was in a car on a bumpy road anyways.

[Eddie Barker]

I was scared!

[Seth]

We felt in here in Redlands. It was a fairly long rumbler. Nothing to write home about though.

[ho]

i felt it about 1 second

[Cristy]

I felt it here in Long Beach.

[JJ]

Mild shaking West Riverside, no falling debris noted