A magnitude 3.2 earthquake occurred near Compton early Sunday morning, causing minor tremors across the southern Los Angeles region.
The seismic event took place at 12:13 a.m., with its epicenter located approximately three miles south-southeast of Compton. The United States Geological Survey reported that shaking was felt as far north as Santa Clarita. No damage or injuries have been reported in connection with this earthquake.
The quake originated about eight miles below the Earth's surface. Its epicenter is situated directly above the Newport-Inglewood Fault Zone, a significant urban fault line in Southern California that extends from Culver City southeast through Compton and Long Beach, continuing into Orange County.
Historically, this fault zone has been the site of destructive seismic activity, including the devastating magnitude 6.4 Long Beach earthquake of 1933. That event, which traversed a 15-mile corridor including Long Beach and Compton, resulted in 120 fatalities.
The Newport-Inglewood Fault Zone is considered a primary seismic hazard area in Southern California due to its proximity to densely populated urban centers. Nearly 1,100 individuals reported feeling Sunday's earthquake, according to data from the USGS.
In 2019, the Compton area experienced two earthquakes within a three-day period, measuring magnitude 3.5 and 2.6 respectively. A 2017 study indicated that past earthquakes on this fault were powerful enough to cause a section of Seal Beach near the Orange County coast to subside by more than a foot within seconds.
