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
Mild shaking West Riverside, no falling debris noted
Posted by: JJ | January 09, 2009 at 07:09 AM
I felt it here in Long Beach.
Posted by: Cristy | January 09, 2009 at 07:10 AM
i felt it about 1 second
Posted by: ho | January 09, 2009 at 07:10 AM
We felt in here in Redlands. It was a fairly long rumbler. Nothing to write home about though.
Posted by: Seth | January 09, 2009 at 07:10 AM
I was scared!
Posted by: Eddie Barker | January 09, 2009 at 07:10 AM
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.
Posted by: Aaron | January 09, 2009 at 07:10 AM
Felt it shake a little in Lake Forest (92610) tonight.
Posted by: Paul N | January 09, 2009 at 07:11 AM
It shook quite a bit in the High Desert.
Posted by: Patricia | January 09, 2009 at 07:11 AM
i felt it
Posted by: emmanuel | January 09, 2009 at 07:11 AM
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.
Posted by: QuakeInBoots | January 09, 2009 at 07:12 AM
We felt it in Whittier. The computer monitor and tv screen shook and heard cracking sounds. The shower sliding doors rattled too.
Posted by: Nathan & Teresa | January 09, 2009 at 07:12 AM
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......
Posted by: reg park | January 09, 2009 at 07:12 AM
hell yeh i did ,,, am over here at NBC burbank ,,,man i was alomst like thast it THIS IS THE ONE. THINK GOD
Posted by: A day | January 09, 2009 at 07:13 AM
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.
Posted by: Adrian | January 09, 2009 at 07:13 AM
We felt it here in Irvine!
Posted by: XiangShu | January 09, 2009 at 07:13 AM
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.
Posted by: Joey | January 09, 2009 at 07:13 AM
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.
Posted by: Lucy | January 09, 2009 at 07:13 AM
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.
Posted by: blondk8 | January 09, 2009 at 07:13 AM
Didn't feel anything in Bell Gardens / Downey area. My dogs didn't even seem to feel it.
Posted by: Carlos M | January 09, 2009 at 07:14 AM
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.
Posted by: blondk8 | January 09, 2009 at 07:14 AM
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?!
Posted by: Sheri | January 09, 2009 at 07:27 AM
Earthquake was felt in San diego
Posted by: Annie huxley | January 09, 2009 at 07:30 AM
i felt it here in Eagle Rock. mild and lasted about five seconds.
Posted by: TD | January 09, 2009 at 07:30 AM
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.
Posted by: S Davis | January 09, 2009 at 07:33 AM
Few seconds of rattling and shifting was felt in Hemet, CA. It was scary but thank God, no damage at all
Posted by: Priscila | January 09, 2009 at 07:33 AM