2024-09-13 16:25:02
A 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck Malibu this morning, and while some slept through it, others awoke to the ground rattling beneath them.
“I think the earthquake was part of my dream,” Anna Shvidler, a sophomore from the United Kingdom, said. “But I was awoken by hearing my roommate from the other room scream, like, ‘Guys, there’s an earthquake!’”
Shvidler was initially frightened by the jolts, but she quickly knew there was nothing to fear.
“I’m not used to earthquakes, but I was also here last year and also had a few experiences with earthquakes, but they were smaller and didn’t last as long as this one,” she said. “But I kind of found it fun.”
Freshman Phil Rasmussen managed to avoid the startling wake-up call, already up and on his way to class when the trembling began. He also said he felt a sense of thrill as someone unfamiliar with the hazard.
“I think it’s kind of exciting, but I was definitely terrified,” he said. “Because while I was enrolling at USC, they have earthquake insurance so that had me terrified that buildings are going to be cracked in half and stuff like that.”
Though earthquakes are no stranger to the Southern California region, this year has seen an unprecedented amount. Even so, USC professor of Seismology John Vidale said there is no immediate threat inherent in an uptick in earthquake occurrences.
“There have been a number of earthquakes this year around Southern California, more than usual, but we consider that just a coincidence,” he said. “There’s no reason to think the earthquakes these distances from each other are related.”
But, he said, the fact that these quakes have been felt across the city highlights the risk that earthquakes pose to the region.
Vidale recommended that those living in the state download an earthquake early warning app on mobile phones, such as the MyShake App, buy emergency supplies and check in with their building to ensure it is up to code.
No damage or injuries resulted from today’s temblor, though several aftershocks, some with magnitudes of up to 3.4, have been reported.
