HERMOSA BEACH — A magnitude-3.6 earthquake struck at 8:40 a.m. on Sunday, with its epicenter located approximately 6 kilometers west of Hermosa Beach. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the event as a preliminary occurrence before revising the magnitude from 3.5 to 3.6 based on further analysis.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of roughly 6 miles and received a preliminary intensity rating of III, indicating weak shaking. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries associated with the earthquake, and no tsunami warning was issued.

Residents in Gardena, Torrance, parts of west Los Angeles, and surrounding areas reported feeling the earthquake. The USGS received hundreds of 'Did You Feel It?' Reports following the earthquake.

Santa Monica resident Kelsey Goldbach described her experience while working from home. "I am working from home today, and I was sitting at my desk. I felt a rumble, like I thought a truck was driving by, and then I was like, ‘Oh my God, that’s an earthquake,’" Goldbach said.

She added that the event caused minimal disruption to her daily routine. "Nothing fell in my house, luckily, and I had no Wi-Fi problems, which was great, but it was just a little rough start to my Sunday morning."

The Sunday morning tremor followed earlier seismic activity in the region. A magnitude-3.5 earthquake struck shortly after 7:20 a.m. on Sunday, and a magnitude-2.6 earthquake struck about 20 minutes after the 7:20 a.m. quake. More than 60 low-magnitude earthquakes, most registering below magnitude 2.0, were recorded across Southern California during one recent Saturday.

Recent seismic events have also occurred near Compton. A magnitude-3.2 earthquake occurred near Compton earlier this month, and a magnitude-3.1 earthquake occurred near Compton on Sept. 17.

Caltech seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones has modeled a magnitude-7.8 rupture along the southern San Andreas Fault. Research from the University of Bern has examined seismic stress around the Cajon Pass.

Why It Matters

The recurrence of seismic events in the Los Angeles Basin reflects the ongoing tectonic activity in the region, even when individual earthquakes cause little damage. The hundreds of community reports submitted to the USGS demonstrate that residents remain attentive to ground motion, providing valuable data for seismic monitoring.

While the Sunday earthquake was minor, it occurred within a network of faults that includes the San Andreas and Palos Verdes systems. Scientific modeling of larger potential ruptures, such as the magnitude-7.8 scenario along the southern San Andreas Fault, provides context for the long-term seismic hazard facing Southern California.

Timeline

A magnitude-3.1 earthquake occurred near Compton on Sept. 17.

What's New

Additional reporting provides further detail on the geological context and regional seismic patterns. A 3.6-magnitude earthquake struck near Hermosa Beach on Sunday morning at 8:40 a.m., with its epicenter about 3.7 miles west-southwest of Hermosa Beach at a depth of about 7.4 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The Compton thrust fault, a blind thrust fault near Hermosa Beach, has a Holocene slip rate of 1.2 mm/yr and experienced six paleoseismic events in the past 14,000 years, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's Quaternary Fault and Fold Database. The San Andreas Fault, which runs near Hermosa Beach, has a slip rate of 35 mm/year near Parkfield, California, according to U.S. Geological Survey tectonic activity reports.

The U.S. Geological Survey monitors earthquakes and provides preliminary data, with the 3.6-magnitude earthquake near Hermosa Beach recorded as a preliminary event and later revised from 3.5 to 3.6 based on further analysis. Dr. Lucy Jones, a Caltech seismologist, has modeled a potential magnitude-7.8 rupture along the southern San Andreas Fault, showing the risk of widespread and destructive shaking across Southern California. Reports following the earthquake, reflecting significant community engagement and awareness of seismic events in the region. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded over 60 minor earthquakes in Southern California on a recent Saturday, most below magnitude 2.0, indicating increased seismic activity in the region.