3.5-magnitude earthquake strikes off Southern California coast near Rancho Palos Verdes
A late-night tremor rippled across parts of Southern California on Sunday after a 3.5-magnitude earthquake struck offshore near Rancho Palos Verdes. The quake was felt along stretches of the Los Angeles County coastline and into northern Orange County, though authorities reported no injuries or damage.According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at approximately 9:40 p.m. on 22 February. Its epicentre was located in the Pacific Ocean about 14 miles south south-west of Rancho Palos Verdes, positioned north of Catalina Island. The tremor originated at a depth of roughly 6.7 miles beneath the ocean floor, with the agency also reporting the depth as nearly seven miles.Initial reports through the USGS “Did You Feel It?” Programme indicated that by around 10:15 p.m., residents had submitted accounts of shaking from several areas. People reported feeling the quake along the Orange County coastline south of Huntington Beach, in Long Beach, and northwards into Inglewood and Los Angeles. Additional reports extended as far east as northern Orange County near Fullerton.Despite the wide area in which the tremor was noticed, no injuries or property damage have been reported. Emergency officials and local authorities continue to monitor conditions, but there are no immediate safety concerns linked to the seismic activity. The incident marks the third offshore earthquake affecting Southern California within a week. Earlier, a 3.0-magnitude quake was recorded 11 miles south-east of Port Hueneme in Ventura County. In a separate event, a 2.9-magnitude tremor struck four miles west of Malibu.
