Breaking: Major Earthquake Hits Los Angeles — Live Updates, Damage Reports & Safety Tips

A mild but widely-felt earthquake rattled parts of the Los Angeles metropolitan area late Saturday night, prompting a surge of online reports from Long Beach to downtown LA. According to the independent monitoring service VolcanoDiscovery, the seismic event was detected at 10:38 p.m. local time on May 24, with a preliminary depth of about 10 km; its magnitude is still being reviewed by seismologists. Early data from the Southern California Earthquake Data Center (SCEDC) show several small quakes—ranging from magnitude 1.6 to 2.4—occurring across the region in the 24 hours leading up to the jolt, part of a typical low-level seismic sequence beneath the Los Angeles Basin. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) automatically logged a separate magnitude 2.4 quake near Mission Canyon at 5:39 a.m. UTC on May 25, underscoring the ongoing micro-quake activity that often precedes or follows a more noticeable tremor. Shaking intensity • Residents in Long Beach, Lakewood, and parts of southeast LA County described “a quick, sharp jolt” lasting two to three seconds. • Weak to light shaking (MMI II–III) was reported as far north as Pasadena and Glendale, while users in Orange County called it “a single bump.” • No injuries or significant damage have been reported to local emergency management agencies as of early Sunday morning. Why so many small quakes? Southern California sits atop a complex network of faults, including the notorious Newport-Inglewood and Whittier faults that cut beneath the LA Basin. Small slips along these structures relieve only a fraction of the tectonic stress that has built up since the last major rupture; the USGS estimates the region experiences hundreds of magnitude 1–3 events every month. While Saturday’s quake was minor, it serves as a reminder that a larger event—such as a magnitude 6–7 on the San Andreas or Puente Hills fault—remains possible. What to do next 1. Check your home: Look for dislodged items on shelves, cracked drywall, or gas odors. Report any hazards to authorities. 2. Update earthquake kits: Verify that flashlights, batteries, bottled water, and first-aid supplies are current. 3. Practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”: Review safe spots under sturdy furniture and rehearse with family members. 4. Enable ShakeAlert on smartphones: Both iOS and Android devices in California can receive USGS early-warning notifications. Travel and infrastructure • LAX, Long Beach Airport, and Metrolink rail lines operated without delay following rapid track and runway inspections. • Caltrans reported no structural issues on the Vincent Thomas Bridge or I-405 flyovers, but crews will continue evaluating elevated roadways through the day. Outlook Aftershocks of magnitude 1–2 are likely over the next several days, though any felt shaking should be minor. The USGS assigns less than a 1 percent probability that Saturday’s quake will trigger a magnitude 5 or larger event in the immediate vicinity. Nonetheless, scientists emphasize that preparedness—not prediction—is the public’s best defense. For real-time updates, visit the USGS “Did You Feel It?” portal or follow @CalQuakes on social media.