From Friday night into Saturday, a series of small earthquakes created unease among residents of Lennox and Westmont. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), 90 micro-quakes occurred in these areas. These tremors spanned magnitudes from 1.0 to 2.7, taking place from 8:05 p.m. Friday to 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
The quakes happened near the Newport-Inglewood Fault Zone, a known strike-slip fault stretching from Culver City to Newport Beach. A study in 2017 revealed that this fault could pose a greater threat than once thought. Historical evidence suggests that past earthquakes here might have reached magnitudes as high as 7.5, with such force that parts of Seal Beach sank multiple feet.
A recent earthquake of magnitude 3.2 also hit the same fault zone close to Compton. People from different places like Crenshaw, Huntington Park, Bell, West Adams, Mid-City, and Gardena reported feeling the tremors on social media.
The USGS, responsible for monitoring earthquakes, was not immediately available for comment. However, their information indicates that micro-quakes do not predict larger seismic events. The organization also stated that seismic activity is unlikely to be influenced by heavy rainfall, such as the storm Los Angeles experienced in early September. Yet, it acknowledges that significant rain or drought can indirectly influence fault zones, as a study suggests variations in micro-quake occurrences could relate to rainfall patterns.