Light Earthquake Shakes Southern California Near Malibu

MALIBU, California — A magnitude 4.1 earthquake centered north of Malibu rattled Southern California on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 1:03 p.m. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the strongest shaking was felt in Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, and Camarillo, with tremors described as light.

The quake, considered light by the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, was strong enough to rattle dishes and windows but did not result in any immediate reports of damage. California’s fire departments, including officials at L.A. County Fire Station 88, indicated that they had not received calls related to damages in their areas.

Residents reported varying experiences of the quake. In Westlake Village, some felt a noticeable roll while others in Redondo Beach described it as a long rumble. A resident in downtown L.A. noted, “It felt like a long but gentle shake.”

This earthquake was part of an unusual surge in seismic activity in Southern California. In 2024, the region recorded 15 seismic sequences that included at least one earthquake of magnitude 4 or higher, marking the highest total in 65 years, according to seismologist Lucy Jones from Caltech.

The earthquake, which came just a minute after a magnitude 2.5 aftershock, impacted a broad area from south Goleta to Huntington Beach. Some residents reported a sensation similar to a truck colliding with a building, as they felt the brief seismic disturbances.

Experts, while monitoring the situation closely, urged caution regarding assumptions that this event indicates the likelihood of a larger, more destructive earthquake. Susan Hough, a U.S. Geological Survey seismologist, stated, “Seismologists have spent decades trying to read the tea leaves to look for patterns. The seismic network was installed in Southern California because scientists thought that small earthquakes would show patterns before the big earthquakes happened. And that just didn’t work out.”

The latest earthquake is the first of magnitude 4 or higher recorded in 2025. Seismologists have long warned residents to remain prepared, emphasizing the importance of emergency supplies and practicing earthquake safety tips.

For reference, significant past earthquakes in California include the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, which killed 63 people, and the 1994 Northridge earthquake, which resulted in 60 deaths and damaged over 40,000 buildings.