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Quake Rattles Nerves Near Los Angeles

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER
,
AP
posted: 10 HOURS 16 MINUTES AGO
comments: 217
filed under: National News
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LOS ANGELES (May 18) - A moderate earthquake that swept across Southern California was felt by millions and sent at least one person to the hospital, but the region avoided any significant damage or major injuries.
The magnitude-4.7 quake hit at 8:39 p.m. Sunday night, about 10 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles and three miles east of Los Angeles International Airport, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. At least 10 aftershocks had followed by early Monday, with the largest registering at magnitude-3.1.
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The quake rattled the greater Los Angeles region for about 10 to 15 seconds and was felt as far south as San Diego, said USGS seismologist Susan Hough.
"This was a serious jolt. It was probably felt within 100 miles," Hough said.
The shaking was most intense in the coastal communities south of the airport. Some residents said books and other items were knocked off the shelves.
Glass broke at a Starbucks in Torrance, and one person there had minor injuries and was taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital, Torrance Fire Department dispatchers said. Neither the fire department nor the hospital would release further information about patient or the injuries.
Television images showed a Long Beach drapery business that had its storefront window knocked out, and tiles fell during a screening at a Redondo Beach movie theater, but no injuries were reported in either incident.
Some residents north of downtown Los Angeles either felt a light shake or nothing at all.
There were no reports of any damage at the airport, just miles from the epicenter. The Los Angeles Fire Department received plenty of calls, but none to report any major injuries, said spokesman Brian Humphrey.
Seismologists had pegged the quake initially at a magnitude-4.7, then revised it to a magnitude-5.0, but updated it about an hour after the temblor struck back to 4.7.
During earthquakes, it's not unusual for magnitudes to change as scientists comb through data from hundreds of seismic stations in the field that record the shaking.
The quake, which hit 8.4 miles below the surface, appears consistent with movement on the Newport-Inglewood fault, said USGS geophysicist Ken Hudnut.
The Newport-Inglewood fault was responsible for the magnitude-6.4 Long Beach earthquake in 1933 that caused 120 deaths and more than $50 million in property damage.
The last damaging earthquake in Southern California was the 1994 magnitude-6.7 Northridge quake that toppled bridges and buildings.
AP Science Writer Alicia Chang contributed to this report.
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Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-05-18 07:16:31
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MarzMeetsVenus

08:43 PMMay 19 2009

lmao I put that statement in the wrong article. Oops...and I'm not even baked.

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MarzMeetsVenus

08:41 PMMay 19 2009

If Bush is such a biblical fanatic, then he should have legalized marijuana. God says to use it in an annointing oil. The Holy anointing oil used by the Hebrews contained cannabis extracts, "kaneh bosm" and it is also listed as an incense tree in the original Hebrew and Aramaic texts of the Old Testament. The early Christians used cannabis oil for medicinal purposes and as part of the baptismal process to confirm the forgiveness of sins and "right of passage" into the Kingdom of Heaven. It can be found in Exodus 30. So it is our God given right to use marijuana, and should be legal based on religious reasons.

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Zigzigsputnik1

07:23 PMMay 18 2009

I wonder if the guy that was hurt at starbucks spilt coffee on his lap. Could ya sue starbucks for that? Maybe they should start serving in sippie cups. wait, they do!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA

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MarzMeetsVenus

06:13 PMMay 18 2009

I'm bummed that I didn't feel this quake. I'm about 80 miles from LA, but we didn't feel a thing. I actually like the earthquakes, as I'm a geologist. I feel much safer living here with quakes than in other parts of the country that are less known for tremors. Our buildings are built to withstand a large quake, unlike areas such as near the New Madrid Fault Line. Many other areas of this country have the potential for a large earthquake. Californians are much more prepared in the event a large EQ hits. I'd be more worried to live in the Pacific NW, near the Cascadia Subduction Zone. That fault has produced the largest eq in the lower 48, and would definitely produce a tsunami.

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MarzMeetsVenus

06:04 PMMay 18 2009

SpecialTny45 04:53 PMMay 18 2009 Bye California,hope you have a nice trip.........................you reap what you sew sounds like you been sewing up alot of bad karma lol@@@ So we're "sewing" up our Karma with what, a sewing machine? IT is SOW not SEW. Karma doesn't work that way. It doesn't punish a whole state of people for the actions of a few. You yourself though are adding up some bad Karma by your statement. Wishing ill on others doesn't bring you good karma.

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Kwvanderpool

06:01 PMMay 18 2009

If you do not like California, please do not come here--ever! Keep out of our state and keep your hate with you.

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MarzMeetsVenus

06:00 PMMay 18 2009

TexRogers1 05:08 PMMay 18 2009 How can anybody feel sorry for California? If the whole left wing liberal state falls off in the ocean we will all be better off.@@@ First of all we don't need your pity. We'll all be fine without it even if a big earthquake hits. In turn we won't feel sympathy for losers like you when your home gets destroyed in a flood, a hurricane, a tornado, etc. We know the dangers of living here, it's a trade off for the beautiful warm weather. Also, a little Geology for you. California will never "fall into" the ocean. Sorry to disappoint you on that one. Quit watching Rush Limpbaugh and read a science book, you might actually learn something, although I doubt it.

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TexRogers1

05:08 PMMay 18 2009

How can anybody feel sorry for California? If the whole left wing liberal state falls off in the ocean we will all be better off.

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SpecialTny45

04:53 PMMay 18 2009

Bye California,hope you have a nice trip.........................you reap what you sew sounds like you been sewing up alot of bad karma lol

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Drosner

04:51 PMMay 18 2009

to KandA Wholesale: HAH!! the joke will be on you if you move to Vermont... they are the MOST liberal state in the country, and elected the only REAL Socialist to the Senate...

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