Tuesday's Los Angeles-area earthquake occurred on a fault 'that could eat L.A.'

The Puente Hills thrust fault, which appeared to be responsible for Tuesday's predawn magnitude 4.4 earthquake that shook much of the Los Angeles area, is capable of generating earthquakes up to magnitude 7.5 -- massive shakers larger than any in the modern history of the Los Angeles Basin.

A Times article from 2003 said that the Puente Hills system could touch off a 7.5 temblor directly underneath downtown Los Angeles.

Sue Hough, a seismologist in the Pasadena office of the U.S. Geological Survey, added: "This is the fault that could eat L.A."

Residents who live near the epicenter of Tuesday's quake, centered in Pico Rivera 10 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, said some items fell off shelves and tables, but there was no structural damage to homes.

 The original Times story in 2003 can be found here, while the press release on the study, published in the journal Science, can be found here. 

"The bad news," the report said, "is that when the Puente Hills thrust fault ruptures in an earthquake, it tends to do so in a very big way."

-- Rong-Gong Lin II

Map: Quake simulation on Puente Hills thrust fault. Credit: San Diego Supercomputer Center.

Related:

L.A. Now posts on earthquake news

Comments

[Smart]

And this is why it is such a good idea to cut first responders as the Mayor and the City Council have done.

[eb]

Sue Hough is downing too many cocktails. Could people please stop with these ridiculous end of the world scenarios. Sells newspapers I suppose.

[MikeOHara]

Or not.

[OK...Terrified]

Ok, if your intention was to scare me....you did! But, seriously, what can we do? If it goes, then it goes! Bye-Bye LA!

[kevin]

maybe the people of SoCal will remember that it was Dems in city county and state govt that so bankrupted the system that first responders jobs were cut back....maybe they will remember that when the big one does hit...but probably not

[Strange]

Anyone else find it weird/disturbing/curious that there were no foreshocks nor aftershocks of that quake? Manmade conspiracy mode (on) LOL

[Patrick]

"People get ready, there's a train a comin'..." and we're stuck in the middle of the tracks.

[Hoot]

Yes, it would be very bad if this quake happened. Meanwhile, Southern California residents are facing foreclosure, job loss, unpaid hospital bills, and failing schools. But, those things are so boring.

[Joe_ baja]

No police cartel or fire whiner club member will help you if this were to happen. Give us back our 2nd amendment right to carry our arms.

[Hypatia]

The fault that could 'eat LA'? Srsly?

Sounds to me like Ms. Hough would do a whole lot better writing for Lost or FlashForward.

LA Times, when are you gonna be a REAL paper with REAL reporters? Just askin'. Been here 34 years and this rag has never been worse. It can't even figure out a political ideology much less how to report news. Or how to know what IS news and what is smoke being blown up the public's collective arse.

[Joe]

Ocean front property in Arizona!

[Brent Leckner]

To Hell with L. A. Let the whole crime and corruption laced piece of ground fall in the ocean. Maybe if they just started all over on new ground near Nevada they might be a little more humble and God fearin people!!!!

[fool4jesus]

I lived in the Valley when the '71 quake threw me off my bed. The pool in our apartment bldg on Woodman Ave looked like the ocean in a storm. Half of the water jumped out. Quite a show.

[Lorelei Shark]

We have earthquake defense - like a generator that will run our home - lots of water - lots of food - hard hat and shoes next to our beds - portable communications and lights. It may not be enough to save us - but we're going to at least try. I suggest people start doing what they can, to prepare themselves for the inevitable, rather than the political ranting I'm reading here. Mother Nature doesn't care about politics - she just blows off steam when she feels like it and her wrath is mightier than all of us!