Series of Earthquakes Jolt Lennox and Westmont

Residents of Lennox and Westmont expressed concern following a series of small earthquakes. From Friday night into Saturday, the United States Geological Survey reported around 90 micro-quakes in these unincorporated areas. These tremors ranged from a magnitude of 1.0 to 2.7, starting at 8:05 p.m. on Friday and continuing until 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The seismic activity was concentrated around the Newport-Inglewood Fault Zone, a strike-slip fault extending from Culver City to Newport Beach. A study from 2017 highlighted the fault’s potential danger, suggesting that ancient quakes may have reached magnitudes of up to 7.5, causing substantial coastal shifts near Seal Beach.

Last week, this fault zone experienced a 3.2 magnitude quake near Compton. Residents across cities such as Crenshaw, Huntington Park, Bell, West Adams, Mid-City, and Gardena reported feeling the tremors across social media platforms.

The US Geological Survey, responsible for tracking such earthquakes, couldn’t be contacted immediately for additional comments. However, their data indicates that micro-quakes do not typically forecast larger seismic events. Furthermore, while large rainfalls like the one in early September usually do not influence seismic activities, there’s a possibility of indirect effects. Variations in micro-quake rates might relate to rainfall patterns, according to some studies.