Breaking News: Earthquake Hits Southern California

Long Beach and other nearby areas experienced a significant earthquake on Monday afternoon, originating near South Pasadena around 12:20 p.m. The initial report from the U.S. Geological Survey estimated the magnitude at 4.7, but it was later downgraded to 4.4.

The tremors were felt across a wide area of Southern California, with reports of light swaying reaching as far as Ridgecrest and Twentynine Palms. This event comes just a week after a 5.3 magnitude earthquake near Bakersfield, followed by a series of aftershocks that continued to shake the region.

Although there were no immediate reports of damage, local fire departments went into "earthquake mode" to assess any potential impacts. The Long Beach Fire Department, for example, returned to normal operations shortly before 1 p.m. Additionally, Metro informed riders that trains throughout the transit system would be running at reduced speeds to allow for thorough inspections of the tracks for any signs of damage.

City News Service contributed to this report.

What do you think?

• Do you feel prepared for earthquakes in your area?
• Have you ever experienced a significant earthquake?
• Do you think enough is being done to prevent earthquake damage in high-risk areas?