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4.2 Quake Rumbles Through Valley; Did You Feel It? Tell Us!

Temblor hit near the epicenter of the 1971 magnitude-6.6 San Fernando earthquake.

  • Update: The quake has been recategorized as a magnitude-4.2.

A magnitude-4.3 earthquake struck on Thursday afternoon, four miles east-southeast of Newhall, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The magnitude was upgraded from 4.2 with at least eight aftershocks.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The quake hit near the epicenter of the 1971 magnitude-6.6 San Fernando earthquake, also known as the Sylmar earthquake.

In Thursday's temblor, the shaking was felt in areas across the San Fernando Valley, and as far away as Hollywood, Malibu, parts of downtown Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley, and even San Bernardino and Irvine, according to the USGS' Did You Feel It? website.

The quake hit at 1:47 p.m. five miles north of Pacoima and five miles southeast of Santa Clarita. It was followed three minutes later by magnitude-2.0, 2.6 and 3.0 aftershocks centered four miles north of San Fernando. Aftershocks totaled at least eight.

Unlike the San Fernando quake, which occurred on a thrust fault, this one appears to have been a strike-slip event, in which rocks on either side of the fault slide past each other, geophysicist Doug Given of the U.S. Geological Survey told the Associated Press.

All Los Angeles Fire Department resources were on radio watch checking their districts.

Rides at the nearby Magic Mountain theme park were temporarily halted so workers could ensure there was no damage, but they were quickly reopened.

The quake was one-tenth of a mile underground, which is relatively shallow, according to the USGS.

The magnitude-6.7 Northridge earthquake of 1994 was felt as far away as Las Vegas, more than 270 miles from the epicenter near Cal State Northridge. At least 33 deaths were attributed to the earthquake, and there were more than 8,700 injured. In addition, the 1994 quake caused an estimated $20 billion in damage.

Last Tuesday, Virginia was hit by a magnitude-5.9 earthquake that was felt as far north as Toronto and shut down nuclear power plants along the East Coast.

Follow Chatsworth Patch on Twitter and Facebook for more updates, tips and news.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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birgit September 1, 2011 at 06:20 pm
my dog fraeked a little ,i didnt feel it!
Heidi Birker September 1, 2011 at 06:33 pm
I was reading the Patch story about the paranormal team investigating the bridge. Creepy!
Hans Laetz September 1, 2011 at 06:39 pm
Not big, by Virginia standards.
Heidi Birker September 1, 2011 at 06:41 pm
LOL!
Marianne Love September 1, 2011 at 06:42 pm
I felt it and the aftershock a few seconds ago. My bedroom glass sliding door rattled like crazy. I'm surprised it didn't break. It's really scary and brings back memories of the Northridge earthquake of 1994! I hate earthquakes.
Mike Szymanski (Editor) September 1, 2011 at 06:51 pm
I was at PINZ Bowling, and no one felt a thing... so if an earthquake disrupts your easy spare can u reset?
Mike Szymanski (Editor) September 1, 2011 at 06:57 pm
Karyn Cooks via Tweet
Felt it in #StudioCity --> 4.2-mag. earthquake hits San Fernando Valley | abc7.com http://ow.ly/6jbX9
Nancy Sperber September 1, 2011 at 07:02 pm
I thought I felt something and brushed it off, thinking,"everything's an earthquake lately!"
birgit September 1, 2011 at 07:05 pm
i hate earthquakes too,they freak me out!
notmyfault September 1, 2011 at 07:25 pm
Yeah, but come on a 4.2? Who do we complain to?
Carol Nalin September 1, 2011 at 07:26 pm
Was out in Malibu, Did not feel anything.
Hunter M. Daniels September 1, 2011 at 08:05 pm
I was in a job interview in Granada Hills when the quake struck. At first I thought I was tapping my foot rudely, but nope! The whole room was shaking. After it stopped, my interviewer checked out in the lobby, made a quick phone call and then continued the discussion. Think I got the job too!
LABornAndRaised September 1, 2011 at 08:44 pm
My dog totally slept through it. It was literally a split second here in NoHo. I hung out in the door way just in case for a minute.
Irene DeBlasio September 1, 2011 at 09:26 pm
Whenever I see waves in my pool I know we've had a moderate quake -- there's a pleasant sway, no biggie. During the '94 quake I was standing with neighbors in the middle of the street at 4 ayem. We all wondered if it had rained the night before because the street was wet. When I went back home to survey my home for damage in the morning light I realized half the pool water had spilled down my driveway into the street. My pool was either half full or half empty. Waves are good.
michael lynch September 2, 2011 at 06:29 am
Not happy about ready about an earthquake in Los Angeles. I live in Washington DC. We had our first one here a week ago Tuesday ( a 5.8).. I was on the fifth floor of a government building and I was scared to death! I honestly thought it was the end of the world! There was broken glass all over from pictures falling off the walls. I am taking my vacation and its to southern California on Sept 15th. Looking forward to visiting beautiful California but not the thought of an earthquake. Once in your life time is enough!!
Harlan Hobbs September 2, 2011 at 09:42 am
tried to upload my security cam video of it....hmmmm didnt work
Noel Webb September 2, 2011 at 10:30 am
The feeling under my feet was unmistakable. Having lunch with the my floor moving is unnerving. Fortunately, there was only one shake. Noel Webb
Harlan Hobbs September 2, 2011 at 11:07 am
ok its up!
Laurie Freitag September 2, 2011 at 12:38 pm
In the Cahuenga Pass reading-didn't feel it. I'm up against the mountain though so I think that's why it passed me by.
Eva Yelloz September 2, 2011 at 01:44 pm
At my computer writing away in Sherman Oaks, I felt a sudden soft thud and then heard the pinging sound of my hanging lighting in the hallway. I figured a 3.8 - but was off a bit. After living in Southern California for almost 30 years, I've becomes a decent 'guess-timator' and the strength of the tremors. Funny, since I did not major in seismology ~ just a humble self-employed journalist.
Jheri Heetland September 2, 2011 at 02:27 pm
My daughter and I were at Beckford Elementary. We felt a big jolt and than a rolling sensation.
Linda Coburn September 2, 2011 at 03:08 pm
In Chatsworth felt it as a strong jolt. My personal way of telling whether it's an earthquake versus just a large truck driving by is to see if the blinds start swaying. They swayed hard but it was short.
Irene Gibson September 2, 2011 at 06:30 pm
I was on the road in Woodland Hills at the time.....listening to NPR so I knew where I was at what time later.....didn't feel the quake, but the rest of the family did at home in Sherman Oaks.....no damage this time, thank goodness! We've got to remember to "duck, cover, and hold" if a big one comes along.....get under the closest sturdy surface, like a table or chair....protect your head! Those in WDC ran into the street, which is NOT the thing to do!
tom sheridan September 3, 2011 at 08:10 pm
to birgit: yes, you DID feel it; you just don't want to admit it!
Brian Dzyak September 4, 2011 at 11:13 am
I was flat on a table getting a massage in Encino when the room started to roll. I thought it was just in my mind as I was drifting off in a relaxation daze.
Irene DeBlasio September 4, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Hope you had a 'happy ending'.
NANCY BLOCH September 8, 2011 at 05:53 pm
congratulations hunter!
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
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