Govind Tekale
On Thursday morning, residents of Southern California were jolted awake by a 4.7 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale centred north of Malibu.
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Los Angeles Metro officials implemented their earthquake protocol, slowing trains to inspect for potential damage.
Seismologists reported that the initial quake was followed by more than two dozen aftershocks, including two of magnitude 3.4.
The state's MyShake app sent out 425,217 alerts, according to the governor's office.
This event marks the 14th earthquake sequence of magnitude 4.0 or higher in Southern California this year, surpassing the average of eight to ten annually in recent decades.
USGS geophysicist Morgan Page stated that there is a 1 in 20 chance that another earthquake of 4.7 magnitude or higher will occur in the near future.
While no significant damage was reported, the quake serves as a test of the region's building codes and structural integrity.
While the immediate impact was limited, the event underscores the importance of ongoing preparedness, infrastructure resilience, and public education.