Earthquake jolts Los Angeles

The strongest earthquake to strike a populated area of Southern California in more than a decade rattled windows and chandeliers, made buildings sway and sent people running into the streets on Tuesday. But there were no immediate reports of serious injuries or major damage.

The 5.4-magnitude quake – considered moderate – was felt from Los Angeles to San Diego, and as far east as Las Vegas, 370 kilometres away. Nearly 30 aftershocks quickly followed, the largest estimated at 3.8.

The quake was centered 47 kilometres southeast of downtown Los Angeles near Chino Hills, a San Bernardino County city of 80,000 built mostly in the early 1990’s with the latest in earthquake-resistant technology.

Buildings swayed in downtown Los Angeles for several seconds, leading to the evacuation of some offices.

“I’m still shaking. My knees are wobbling. I thought the building might collapse,” said Rosana Martinez, 50, an employee of California National Bank in downtown Los Angeles.

As strong as it felt, Tuesday’s quake was far less powerful than the deadly magnitude-6.7 Northridge earthquake that toppled bridges and buildings on January 17, 1994. That was the last damaging temblor in Southern California, though not the biggest. A 7.1 quake struck the desert in 1999.

“The most interesting thing to us about this earthquake so far is it is the first one we’ve had in a populated area for quite a long time and people have forgotten what earthquakes feel like,” said seismologist Kate Hutton at the US Geological Survey office in Pasadena. “We should probably look at it as an earthquake drill. I mean it’s a drill for the Big One that will be coming some day.”

The quake interrupted a meeting of the Los Angeles City Council, causing the 27-story City Hall to sway just as Councilman Dennis Zine was criticising a plan to increase trash fees.

“And there goes the earthquake – earthquake, earthquake, earthquake!” said Zine, as members of the audience began to cry out. “The building is rolling!”

Merchandise toppled from store shelves and bricks fell from walls of old-style buildings.

California’s Office of Emergency Services received scattered reports of minor infrastructure damage, including broken water mains and minor gas leaks in homes.

“Nothing serious enough to be an immediate threat to lives, but there is some disruption to utility service,” spokesman Kelly Huston said. The damage was in the greater Los Angeles area.

Minor structural damage was reported throughout Los Angeles, along with five minor injuries and people stuck in elevators, said City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel, serving as acting mayor. She said there was flooding in one department store.

The California Department of Transportation and California Highway Patrol were assessing freeways to check for damage. Traffic appeared to be flowing easily, however.

The jolt caused a fire but no injuries at a Southern California Edison electrical substation in La Habra, about 19 kilometres southwest of the epicenter, spokesman Paul Klein said. Damage there and to other equipment led to some power outages in Chino Hills, Chino, Diamond Bar and Pomona, he said.