Community Corner

Aftershocks Likely Following Quake Near Newport Beach

Small aftershocks are expected in the aftermath of Sunday's early morning quake along the Orange County coast.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Coastal Orange County residents were awakened in the early morning hours by a small earthquake Sunday.

The magnitude-3.6 temblor struck at about 3:41 a.m. 14.5 miles southwest of Newport Beach, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake was about nine kilometers deep. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Find out what's happening in Newport Beach-Corona Del Marfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

There were also no reports of aftershocks within the first few hours of the quake, but small aftershocks are likely over the next few days, according to Caltech's Southern California Seismic Network. The most likely fault responsible for Sunday's quake was the Palos Verdes fault, Caltech reported.

According to Caltech, "Aftershocks may be expected in the next few days, the largest expected is approximately 1 magnitude unit smaller than the mainshock. There is a small chance (about 5 percent) that a larger quake could occur, with the likelihood decreasing over time."

Find out what's happening in Newport Beach-Corona Del Marfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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