4.4 earthquake awakens Southern California; no major damage or injuries reported [Updated]

Southern Californians were awakened early Tuesday to a 4.4-magnitude earthquake centered in Pico Rivera that caused no major damage or injuries but put first-responders on alert and rattled nerves.

Residents living near the epicenter near Pico Rivera said some items fell off shelves and tables, but authorities said they have no reports of structural damage to homes. However, the quake may have caused damage to Interstate 5 in Downey, where two southbound lanes buckled and were closed temporarily. [For the record, 1:16 p.m.: An earlier version of this post stated the quake may have damaged a section of Interstate 5 in Lakewood.]

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the temblor struck at 4:04 a.m. about 11 miles east of downtown Los Angeles and about one mile from Pico Rivera. The depth was recorded at about 11 miles. The quake was considered small, but it was felt over a large swath of Southern California.

On the USGS website, more than 1,000 people across Southern California reported feeling the temblor.

Jeff Carr, chief of staff to L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, said in a Twitter message that it appeared there was "no major damage in the City at this time. Good reminder that we all need 2 be prepared."

The quake was centered about four miles from the epicenter of the 1987 Whittier Narrows quake, which caused eight deaths and registered magnitude 5.9.

Tuesday's quake produced about 500 times less energy than the Whittier Narrows earthquake, said Kate Hutton, a seismologist at Caltech. Tuesday's shaker was also weaker than the 5.5 Chino Hills earthquake in the summer of 2008, which was felt widely but caused little damage.

Earthquakes with a magnitude of 4 are actually quite common in Southern California, occurring somewhere in the region every month or two. The last magnitude 4 earthquake in the region occurred Saturday in a remote area of northern San Diego County near the town of Julian.

"It's all location, location, location," Hutton said. "The only thing that distinguishes this [morning's earthquake] is that it happened in a populated area."

The quake appeared to be triggered by a thrust fault, in which one side of a fault slides over another, Hutton said. It was still unclear which fault caused the quake.

For Jose Palomera, Tuesday's quake came during cleaning time at the taco stand El Atacor in Pico Rivera. He was removing mats out of the kitchen when he felt a strong jolt.

"At first I thought it was a big rig passing by because it tends to shake here when one passes by," Palomera said.

He said he stood still and realized it wasn't a truck. "I then saw my two co-workers come out and ask if it was an earthquake," he said.

Outside the taco stand only minutes after the earthquake struck, Palomera was back to his usual routine, wiping down tables.

"It felt like a big wave just passing by," he said.

There is a small chance that Tuesday's earthquake is a precursor to the Big One, Hutton said. Any time an earthquake occurs in California, there's statistically a 5% chance that it is a "foreshock" of a larger earthquake, Hutton said.

But that 5% chance diminishes after the first day of the quake. The likelihood of a subsequent larger temblor is further lessened if there are no aftershocks. As daybreak approached, no aftershocks had been reported.

-- Ruben Vives in Pico Rivera and Rong-Gong Lin II in Alhambra

Photo: Larry Delahoy walks along the 7700 block of Passons Boulevard in Pico Rivera after being awakened early Tuesday morrning by the magnitude 4.4 earthquake. Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

More breaking news in L.A. Now:

After the quake in Pico Rivera, everything's OK at OK Donuts

South L.A. foster mother, boyfriend are under investigation in child's death

L.A. earthquake rattles region awake but no major damage is reported

Comments

[A reader]

How about some specifics ? Like the time ? This paper is becoming a blog. Sad.

[RRW]

Please, include a map when you are reporting on the outer LA area. I have no idea where Pico Rivera is, and I suspect many others do not either.

[Arnold]

Does this one increase or decrease the chance of the anticipated major earthquake?

[a proud Los Angeles native]

Thank you for posting a photograph of Pico Rivera that has absolutely NO relation whatsover to the quake.... What are we trying to tell the world? That impoverished individuals look both ways before..... an earthquake??? I would expect the Los Angeles Times to be more dignified.

[keith Krupp]

What's with the photo? What's the point? Yes, it's artsy, but it doesn't match the story. Dumb.

[Mary Scott]

Well, experienced my first earthquake!

[illegals hate american]

A 4.4 at 4:04... o k a y ! ! !

[kat]

I was wondering how this picture related to the story about a taco stand. Glad it was clarified in the last sentence here. I'd hate to think this is the cook touching my food. As for the quakes there happening at a rate of dozens a day all up and down California for the last several weeks. They have been getting stronger in some areas every day. Google earth has a great little view that shows where and when and it's magnitude and depth. The pacific oceanic plate is rocking away away for weeks and no one seems to give a darn. Dozens of quakes are occurring in and around major volcanic areas of Mount St. Helens, Hawaii, and Oklahoma Alaska, Japan and Mexico ect...So when is someone going to mention all this ? FYI. and mine.

[Amanda Crater]

What a sign of the times that the mayor's chief of staff took to Twitter!

[anonymous]

I blame H.A.A.R.P.

for those who dont know what that is, i suggest you google it.

[Don]

Get your information right, Interstate 5 does not pass through Lakewood.

[Eve]

I dunno how people sleep though these quakes, yet I hear that all the time. I was half way out of bed before determining that the movement was lessening. Even as a Californian native, I don't think you ever "get used to them"...instead I now try to determine the magnitude - and I was right on with my guess. Scary

[Susan Rogers]

Last night at the drugstore a man in line was buying s flashlight. I had thought to buy one too as I thought it would be useful for an emergency. The man turned to the cashier and said, "earthquakes are coming soon." She said, "don't say that." He said, "well, it's true. An earthquake will be soon." How prophetic. I think it is good to listen to our inner voices and pay attention to the guidance we are given.

I also found it very interesting that the numbers were so harmonized for this quake: a 4.4. at 4:04. Seems like some message, but I am not certain what....
I know in numerology 44 is 8. In many traditions the number 8 refers to "opening." Opening could be interpreted in many ways: the opening of the earth; the opening of energy of the ring of fire, the opening of awareness and possibility etc.

[Beth]

People, the article says the quake struck at 4:04 a.m. and was about 11 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. How much more clear can you be?

[Tomas Stanley]

Why do you show a homeless guy in a story related to the earthquake? There are no earthquake refugees...sheesh....

[Jeff G.]

Around here we like to call that a california alarm clock. Seems like most of our quakes happen just before dawn.

[Guy Fieri]

how about you look up where pico rivera is? lazy a**
and as far as the time it took place read the article again, it mentions the time of occurance. use common sense

[From Downey]

@Don: I guess what the article meant by "Interstate 5 in Lakewood" is Lakewood the Avenue, not Lakewood the City. I-5 crosses Lakewood Ave in Downey.

[Rhonda M.]

How to prepare for an earthquake: earthquake preparedness kit, including radio, batteries, water, canned food items, etc...Earthquake hits! earthquake preparedness kit, radio, water, batteries, and you - buried under rubble, out of reach.

Do this instead: Commit your life into the hands of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Repent of your sins and ask Him to come into your life and save you. Then your life (and your soul) is secure for Eternity - which begins after this temporary existence concludes. For God so loved the world...John 3:16

[Andrew]

Wow, so many complaints on the story, all the info is there if you guys would bother reading more than the first paragraph.

And as for the photo is clearly states: Larry Delahoy walks along the 7700 block of Passons Boulevard in Pico Rivera after being awakened early Tuesday morrning by the magnitude 4.4 earthquake. Yup photo makes sense especially considering the headline . . . it's like people come here with the purpose to complain.

As for the I-5 thing, maybe they meant the 405 or 605, but lakewood is only a few miles away from the I-5 too.

[truthseeker]

Without question its a H.A.A.R.P. operation and my guess is that there will be an even bigger one on:
04.03.2010
4 3 2 1
4321

[ricky]

GOOD MORNING L.A hahahhahah yeah baby

[Vinita]

I absolutely felt the quake this morning and I live in the Leimert Park section of L.A. (90008). My house shook! I agree, you never get used to these darn things. However, I was glad not to be at work, downtown on the 38th floor, when it hit. I have experienced that once before and the sway of the building is the worst. Take note people, they are happening all over the world, get right.

[Kevin]

i was sleeping and preparing for a test a few hour before the quake it rattled and shook my house violently like someone was going to tear down my place. I got scared so I screamed earthquake really loud and my picture frames and trophy started falling off shelves and walls. I was in bed sleeping at the time of the quake. After the quake my body was really cold and shaking up I was shivering like I was in a in Iceland or something. This was bigger than the 5.6 earthquake in the summer of 2008 because it shook so violently.

[Elizabeth]

The photograph has NOTHING to do with the earthquake that took place at 4:04. If any of you notice the background in the photograph it is light outside which means that the 4.4 earthquake has long since passed. As for numerology a magnitude of 4.4 at 4:04 also means NOTHING, it is not a prophecy but just coincidental. Earthquakes occur worldwide every day and the majority of them are micro scale because of plate tectonics that are in continual motion at a rate of mm/yr.