A magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck north of Malibu on Saturday afternoon, the latest in a series of aftershocks reported over the past week and a half.
The latest quake struck at 2:15 p.m. Saturday, with its epicenter on Canaan Dum Road, about 3.6 miles north of Point Dum.
Saturday’s event was the sixth magnitude 3 earthquake to hit the region, and a magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck the same region on Sept. 12 was felt widely across Southern California.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the tremors were only felt in the area closest to the epicenter, which includes Zuma Beach and Point Dum State Beach in Malibu, as defined by the modified Mercalli scale. This intensity of shaking is so mild that many people do not recognize it as an earthquake. If they do, the vibrations felt may be like those of a truck rolling over.
This has been an unusual year for moderate earthquakes in Southern California. The Sept. 12 quake north of Malibu was part of a series of 14 earthquakes this year in Southern California that had at least one magnitude 4 or greater, Caltech research seismologist Lucy Jones said earlier this month.
That broke the record for the past 65 years. During that period, Jones said, there was an average of eight to 10 independent earthquake sequences that included at least one magnitude 4 or greater.
In some years, there are only one or two such earthquake sequences; the previous highest number was 13 in 1988.
The sighting is not necessarily a sign that a powerful and devastating earthquake is just around the corner, scientists say.
Some researchers have proposed conflicting theories: some say that seismic activity in a region increases before a strong earthquake, others say that seismic activity decreases before a strong shaking.
That’s why recent activity offers no indication of when a major, destructive earthquake will strike, U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Susan Howe said earlier this month.
Did you feel this earthquake? Consider Report what you feel according to the USGS.
Are you ready for when Let it Strike? Get ready for the next big quake by registering with us Unconditional votewhich breaks down emergency preparedness into small steps over six weeks. Learn more about earthquake kits, the apps you need, Lucy Jones’ top tips and more here. latimes.com/Unshaken.
