California Earthquake Shakes Los Angeles Region

Magnitude 4.9 Quake Felt Widely

A 4.9-magnitude earthquake shook the Los Angeles region on Monday afternoon, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The quake, which was centered near the city of Ridgecrest, was felt throughout the greater Los Angeles area, including downtown Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Orange County.

The quake struck at 12:31 p.m. PST and was followed by several smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of any injuries or damage.

The quake is the latest in a series of recent earthquakes in California and Nevada. On Friday night, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake rocked Southern California, causing widespread damage and power outages. Earlier this month, a 4.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Southern California coast near Malibu.

Seismologists say that the recent earthquakes are part of a swarm of seismic activity that is likely to continue in the coming days or weeks. They are urging residents to be prepared for additional earthquakes and to take steps to reduce their risk, such as securing heavy objects and having an emergency plan in place.

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.