Los Angeles area hit by 4.4 magnitude earthquake

A powerful earthquake struck near Los Angeles, California on Monday afternoon, shaking homes and startling residents for miles.

The 4.4 magnitude quake’s epicentre hit near Highland Park, a neighbourhood in Los Angeles County not far from the famous Hollywood sign and the Griffith Observatory, at around 12:20 PDT (20:20 BST), according to the US Geological Survey.

It was felt in nearby cities Pasadena and Glendale, and all the way to the coastline in areas like Manhattan Beach and El Segundo.

There was no tsunami warning from the quake, the USGS said.

Officials across the state were monitoring for damage or injuries but nothing major was reported.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said crews from the city’s 106 fire stations were doing a complete survey of the Greater Los Angeles area for structural damage or other issues.

The agency said later that no damage was found and injuries were reported.

Local media reported a water main broke in the nearby city of South Pasadena and officials said the earthquake may have been to blame.

The quake hit during live broadcasts on television and radio that showcased the jarring ground movement. ESPN’s Malika Andrews was interviewing basketball analyst Rebecca Lobo live on-air when the quake struck.

“We have a bit of an earthquake here in Los Angeles,” Ms Andrews said as the camera swerved back and forth with the rattling.

She made sure everyone was OK and told viewers they were going to ensure the studio’s equipment and lights were secured so the crew remained safe. “Everything is shaking,” she remarked.

Another livestream, on ESPN’s podcast Travis and Sliwa Show, showed one member of the team ducking under a table as the earthquake hit. “Woah, woah. That is a real one,” host Travis Rodgers amid the shaking.

The earthquake was first estimated as a 4.7 magnitude, but was later downgraded to a 4.4 magnitude by the US Geological Survey.

The area has seen several magnitude 4 and 5 earthquakes in recent weeks, including in Grapevine and Bakersfield, California last week.