Magnitude 4.5 Quake Rattles Southern California

LOS ANGELES, CA — Residents across Southern California were scanning their homes Saturday morning for any damage caused by a magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck two miles south of Rosemead and was felt across a large portion of the region, including Orange County.

The magnitude 4.5 earthquake epicentered in the San Gabriel Valley area shook the Los Angeles area Friday night at 11:38 p.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake's epicenter was just southwest of El Monte. Shaking was reported as far south as San Diego with more intense shaking felt across Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange counties along with the Inland Empire. The quake occurred at a depth of nearly 11 miles. It was a sharp, jolting temblor. There are no reports of serious injury or significant infrastructure damage related to the earthquake, according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

According to seismologist Lucy Jones, the quake occurred in almost the same location as the magnitude deadly 5.9 Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 that caused more than $200 million in damage. The area has a very active fault line that runs through the center of Los Angeles and is capable of producing major quakes.

A pair of aftershocks, magnitudes 2.1 and 1.6, struck within 10 minutes of the quake, Jones said. She said there is only about a 5% chance of a stronger quake in the immediate future.

She later tweeted this quake "is not considered an aftershock (to the Whittier Narrows quake) because the aftershocks died off completely in less than two years."

The Los Angeles Fire Department went into "Earthquake Mode, with all 106 Neighborhood Fire Stations checking their areas for damage."

About 12:45 a.m., the department said it had completed its assessments.

"Though felt widely in the greater Los Angeles area, we are pleased to report there are no serious injuries, and no preliminary indication of significant infrastructure damage within the City of Los Angeles," department spokesman Brian Humphrey said.

The department asked residents to also check on at-risk neighbors, especially seniors living alone, and pets.

There were no reports of damage at Los Angeles International Airport, but crews are thoroughly checking the airfield and terminal, officials at Los Angeles World Airports said.

USC tweeted about 2:15 a.m. that "(Department of Public Safety) completed a survey of (the main) & (Health Services) campuses, respectively. There were no reports of injuries or damage."

A news photographer near the Golden State (5) and Garden Grove (22) freeways in Santa Ana told City News Service the shaking there was "significant."

The Los Angeles Police Department tweeted about 12:40 a.m. "fortunately there are no significant incidents to report" and asked residents to only call 911 for emergencies.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was also warning residents to prepare for aftershocks.

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"If Inside When Shaking Starts: DROP, COVER, HOLD ON! Protect Your Head + Neck While Taking Cover Under Sturdy Furniture or Near a Sturdy Interior Wall, Away From Windows and Doorways Until Shaking Stops," the department warned.

The Los Angeles Police Department asked residents to only call 911 for emergencies.

City News Service contributed to this report.