An earthquake initially estimated at 4.4 with an epicenter near Highland Park shook the area on Monday afternoon, Aug. 12, according the the United States Geological Survey.
The USGS categorized the shaking as “strong” with the potential for light damage with some of the strongest shaking near East Los Angeles.
Those as far away as Rancho Cucamonga, Newport Beach and Victorville reported feeling the quake. In some places, it lasted for a couple of seconds. In the Pasadena area, there were quick, successive violent jolts.
No damages or injuries have been reported to South Pasadena and Pasadena police, officials said. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tweeted the Los Angeles Fire Department is is now in earthquake mode and is activated to conduct its routine survey of the city to assess for any damages.
Pasadena Police Lt. Matt Campeau said the police station shook and they would do their normal protocol, which includes moving the police cars out of the parking structure and checking the building, he said.
The quake rattled nerves at the the Colorado Boulevard office building in Pasadena that houses WeWork, where staff from tenants briefly evacuated their offices. Shortly after the shake, scores of workers were seen heading downstairs to firmer ground.
“It felt like a big one,” said Mimi Chacon, who felt it with her colleagues on the third floor of the Colorado Boulevard building. “It felt like a car had crashed into the building.”
Several folks said they were native to Southern California, and are used to quakes – particularly after a swarm of shakers in recent weeks.
But felt from within the glass encased innards of the WeWork suites, this one got their attention. They described a rumble that was sustained.
“It feels like you should be used to this, but I’m not,” Chacon said.
The building was briefly evacuated, as some folks held out for aftershocks, but it wasn’t long before folks filed back in, amid the din of fire engines along Colorado and helicopters overhead.
This was another in a string of recent moderate earthquakes to rattle Southern California. A 5.2 magnitude earthquake centered near Lamont happened just a week before on Aug. 7, which included an 4.4 magnitude aftershock. On July 29, there was a 4.9 magnitude earthquake centered near Barstow. This was the largest quake centered in Los Angeles County since a 4.6 magnitude quake near Malibu in February.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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