5.1 Earthquake Hits California

An anonymous reader writes "A 5.1 earthquake hit Southern California at 9:09PM local time on Friday. It was preceded by a 3.6 earthquake, then followed by 3.4 and 3.6 quakes, as well as 100+ smaller aftershocks. The United States Geological Survey has a map showing the epicenter. There have been no reported deaths, though roughly 50 people have been displaced from their homes. 'The shake caused a rock slide in Carbon Canyon, causing a car to overturn, according to the Brea Police Department. Fullerton police received reports of water main breaks and windows shattering, but primarily had residents calling about burglar alarms being set off by the quake.'"

Comments

Other quakes today

[Anonymous Coward]

5.0 - deep Atlantic Ocean - http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ear...
5.8 - deep Atlantic Ocean - http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ear...
5.2 - 100 km east of Japan - http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ear...
5.0 - near New Guinea - http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ear...
5.2 - Nicaragua - http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ear...
and then there are the ones below magnitude 5

Re:Other quakes today

[dreamchaser]

This one, however, could be significant in that seismologists say it concerns them because the fault that caused it hasn't been active in awhile, and it runs directly through downtown Los Angeles. There is a small but significant chance that a larger quake could be coming.

Re:Other quakes today

[tompaulco]

Come, now. We've only had 5 earthquakes in the last day in Oklahoma, and not a one above 3.2. Seriously though, I have to wonder about whether the frequency is a bad thing. Are they earthquakes that would have occurred in the fullness of time, in other words, from plate shift? In that case, the more frequent the better, in my opinion. Rather a 100 small vibrations than one big shock. On the other hand, if the shocks are caused by emptied out caverns underground collapsing, then again, fracking would serve to lessen that by filling the caverns with fluid. Fracking is being used in Oklahoma mostly for forcing out natural gas. So they caverns are already empty. Fracking fluid should prevent rather than accelerate cave-ins.

Equivalent

[Anonymous Coward]

A 5.1 in California is the equivalent of an inch of snow in Ohio. People will kvetch about it but not cause any real issues.

And in other news for nerds

[markdavis]

And in other technological "news for nerds"....

Hurricanes hit the Mid-Atlantic
Tornadoes spawn in the Midwest.
Snow falls in the Northeast.
Taxes go up.
Civil liberties go down.
Google makes money.

http://www.earthquakecountry.i...

Re:filed under lame news?

[causality]

I used to think living in the country somewhere, a drive away from a WalMart but out where a man's rights are respected, was crazy talk. Now it seems like a nice way to lay back and watch the world spin.

Most things that make sense to the informed are "crazy talk" to the rest.

Re:filed under lame news?

[Dupple]

mag 5 is a nothing quake. california really needs to get over itself

I think the problem is that California is getting under itself

We will rebuild

[houghi]

We will rebuild