A swarm of 90 micro-earthquakes, ranging in magnitude from 1.0 to 2.7, rattled the communities of Lennox and Westmont from Friday night into Saturday afternoon, prompting concern among residents.
The seismic activity, recorded by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), was clustered around the Newport-Inglewood Fault Zone, a significant strike-slip fault extending from Culver City to Newport Beach. The tremors occurred between 8:05 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Newport-Inglewood Fault Zone has previously been identified as potentially dangerous. A 2017 study indicated that historical earthquakes along this fault may have reached magnitudes as high as 7.5, causing severe disruption, including subsidence of coastal areas. This recent swarm follows a magnitude 3.2 earthquake that struck the same fault zone near Compton just last week.
Reports of residents feeling the tremors surfaced from various cities and neighborhoods across the region, including Crenshaw, Huntington Park, Bell, West Adams, Mid-City, and Gardena. While the USGS could not be immediately reached for comment, the organization's data suggests that micro-quakes are not typically indicative of larger seismic events.
The USGS also noted that while direct links between seismic activity and heavy rainfall are unlikely, prolonged periods of significant rain or drought could indirectly influence fault zones. Research suggests that micro-quake rates might experience minor fluctuations correlated with rainfall patterns.
