A magnitude 3.9 earthquake was reported at 8:17 p.m. Sunday less than a mile from Malibu, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake occurred one week after a 4.1 earthquake rattled the city, part of a pattern of moderate earthquakes that have been shaking the area.
The earthquake occurred about four miles from Thousand Oaks, where some residents reported light but prolonged shaking. The side-to-side rocking lasted about 10 seconds, they said: It was “a pretty good rattle.”
There’s been an uptick in moderate earthquakes in the region since 2024. Southern California, in all of 2024, had 15 seismic sequences that included at least one quake that had a magnitude of 4.0 or stronger, said Lucy Jones, a seismologist and Caltech research associate. It was the highest yearly total in more than six decades.
The Malibu area has seen three quakes larger than magnitude 4 in the last 13 months.
The quake rattled the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department station in Agoura but “wasn’t all that violent,” sheriff’s Sgt. Joseph De Mel told The Times. Sheriff’s officials said no damage had been reported.
As of 9:15 p.m., there were scattered reports of weak shaking as far south as Long Beach and as far north as Oxnard, as well as near downtown Los Angeles, according to the USGS.
The most recent earthquake struck four miles from Westlake Village, seven miles from Agoura Hills and nine miles from Oak Park.
In the last 10 days, there have been two earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
An average of five earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.0 to 4.0 occur each year in the Greater Los Angeles area, according to a recent three-year data sample.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 8.9 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Are you ready for when the Big One hits? Get ready for the next big earthquake by signing up for our Unshaken newsletter, which breaks down emergency preparedness into bite-sized steps over six weeks. Learn more about earthquake kits, which apps you need, Lucy Jones’ most important advice and more at latimes.com/Unshaken.
Times staff writer Sandra McDonald and Quakebot contributed to this report.
