A small earthquake struck the Los Angeles area on Friday night, but there were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries.
The 4.3 quake struck shortly after 7:58 p.m. and, according to preliminary information on the US Geological Survey website, was centered near Carson, about 21 miles southeast of downtown LA.
Its depth has been reported to be about 9 miles, the USGS reported.
Some people reported feeling a jolt that ranged from a moment to 10 seconds across the entire area. It was widespread, from neighboring cities like Santa Monica, Torrance, and Beverly Hills to Antelope Valley, an hour’s drive north and south to Orange County and possibly beyond.
The Marathon Petroleum Refinery in Carson lost power and began burning off excess gases in a process known as flaring that sent flames into the sky and triggered calls from concerned people that there was a fire.
“Torches are safety devices and the torches are working as intended. There are no injuries or external influences, “said company spokesman Jamal Kheiry of the Los Angeles Times in an email.
The Los Angeles Fire Department went on earthquake emergency mode and sent vehicles and helicopters to patrol their 1,217 square kilometer area, but said they had received no reports of “significant damage or injury,” according to a department statement.
Seismologist Lucy Jones told KCBS-TV that the quake “doesn’t look unusual at all.”
“This size occurs somewhere in Southern California, on average, every few months,” she said. “When it’s in the middle of the Los Angeles Basin, a lot more people feel it and it becomes bigger news.”
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