Earthquake Los Angeles: 3.5-Magnitude Quake Strikes Off Rancho Palos Verdes Coast
A 3. 5-magnitude earthquake was recorded late Sunday night, marking another offshore temblor near the Los Angeles coastline. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) registered the event and noted shaking was felt across parts of Los Angeles County and into northern Orange County.
Earthquake Los Angeles — Development details
The USGS recorded the quake at approximately 12: 40 a. m. ET on Feb. 23 (9: 40 p. m. PST Sunday), placing its epicenter just over 14 miles off the coast near Catalina Island. The temblor registered 3. 5 on the magnitude scale and occurred at a depth of nearly seven miles beneath the seafloor. The USGS's public "Did You Feel It?" responses indicate the shaking was noticed along the Los Angeles County shoreline and as far east as northern Orange County near Fullerton.
Officials have not confirmed any injuries or structural damage following the event. This incident is the third offshore quake recorded in the region over the past week: earlier tremors included a 3. 0-magnitude event 11 miles southeast of Port Hueneme in Ventura County and a 2. 9-magnitude temblor four miles west of Malibu.
Context and escalation
The latest temblor follows two smaller offshore quakes reported earlier in the same seven-day span, forming a brief cluster of seismic activity along Southern California's coast. The sequencing—3. 0, then 2. 9, and now 3. 5—shows small but measurable variations in magnitude and location within a narrow coastal corridor. What makes this notable is that multiple separate events were recorded in a short time frame and across distinct points from Ventura County down toward the Los Angeles shoreline.
The USGS cataloged each event with precise locations and depths; the newest quake’s proximity to Catalina Island and its shallow depth of roughly seven miles correspond with the pattern of coastal shaking residents across adjacent communities.
Immediate impact
Residents along the Los Angeles coast and parts of northern Orange County experienced noticeable shaking, as reflected in the USGS feeling reports. The scope of shaking extended eastward to Fullerton, indicating perceptible ground motion well inland from the epicenter.
There have been no confirmed injuries or damage, and no emergency declarations or official advisories have been issued in the hours following the event. The lack of reported harm aligns with the quake’s moderate magnitude and offshore location just over 14 miles from shore, limiting its immediate impact on populated areas.
Forward outlook
The USGS data establishes the quake as part of a short series of offshore events; officials will continue to monitor seismic activity and update public records as additional measurements or felt reports arrive. Confirmed milestones to watch include any aftershock sequence that could follow a 3. 5-magnitude event and updates to the USGS public reporting tools.
For now, authorities have indicated no damage or injuries and the incident remains cataloged in routine seismic monitoring. The United States Geological Survey will maintain the public record for the event and any related seismic activity in the coming days.
