On Friday Afternoon a Shallow M4.6 Earthquake struck near Thousand Oaks in The United States.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on February 9th, 2024. Last updated April 9th, 2024.

Under land 9 miles from Thousand Oaks in The United States, a shallow Magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurred in the early afternoon of Friday February 9th, 2024. The earthquake struck near a very densely populated region. The USGS has indicated there is a potential risk at tsunami's following this earthquake. Another nearby country is Mexico.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in The United States, 9 miles (14 km) south-southwest of Thousand Oaks in California. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 10 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Feb 9, 2024 01:47PM (Los Angeles Time) - Feb 9, 2024 21:47 Universal Time.
Location:	9 mi SSW of Thousand Oaks, California, The United States. Coordinates 34°3'27"N 118°54'28"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 4.6 Detected by 36 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.2 .
Depth:	10 mi (15 km) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	V Moderate On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Potential tsunami risk The USGS has indicated there is a potential risk at tsunami's following this earthquake. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Potential tsunami risk

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

There is a potential tsunami risk in the aftermath of this earthquake, immediately evacuate to higher grounds away from coastal areas and monitor advice from local authorities. The US Geographic Survey organization has indicated a potential risk for tsunami's following this earthquake.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	This earthquake appears to have struck on land near a coastal area (1 mi from the sea).	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 4.6. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 10 mi (15 km). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 20 million people exposed to shaking

The USGS has published a report estimating the number of people exposed to this earthquake. Acoording to their analysis, roughly 20 million have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is V, which corresponds with moderate shaking and very light damage. Roughly 18,910 people are expected to be exposed to this level. The majority of people (roughly 12 million) live in an area exposed to level III, where weak shaking and probably no damage is expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of Mexico .

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
5,766,000	I	Not noticable	None
6,539,000	II	Very weak	None
11,770,000	III	Weak	Probably none
2,026,000	IV	Light	Likely none
18,910	V	Moderate	Very light
0	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

2 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: The United States and Mexico .

Thousand Oaks in California, The United States is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 9 miles (14 km) south-southwest of Thousand Oaks. Thousand Oaks experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly IV. That level implies light shaking and likely no damage.

Major cities near this earthquake: Los Angeles is located 38 mi to the east and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Thousand Oaks is located 9 mi to the north-northeast and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Oxnard is located 18 mi to the west-northwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage).

An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
9 mi (14 km) NNE from epicenter	Thousand Oaks California, The United States.	IV Light
9 mi (15 km) NE from epicenter	Agoura Hills California, The United States.	IV Light
11 mi (18 km) ENE from epicenter	Agoura California, The United States.	V Moderate
13 mi (21 km) NW from epicenter	Camarillo California, The United States.	IV Light
16 mi (25 km) N from epicenter	Moorpark California, The United States.	IV Light
16 mi (26 km) NNE from epicenter	Simi Valley California, The United States.	IV Light
17 mi (27 km) ENE from epicenter	Calabasas California, The United States.	IV Light
17 mi (28 km) WNW from epicenter	Port Hueneme California, The United States.	III Weak
18 mi (29 km) WNW from epicenter	Oxnard California, The United States.	III Weak
18 mi (29 km) ENE from epicenter	West Hills California, The United States.	IV Light
19 mi (30 km) ENE from epicenter	Woodland Hills California, The United States.	IV Light
21 mi (33 km) ENE from epicenter	Canoga Park California, The United States.	IV Light
22 mi (36 km) NNW from epicenter	Santa Paula California, The United States.	III Weak
22 mi (36 km) NE from epicenter	Chatsworth California, The United States.	IV Light
24 mi (39 km) E from epicenter	Santa Monica California, The United States.	IV Light
24 mi (39 km) ENE from epicenter	Northridge California, The United States.	IV Light
24 mi (39 km) ENE from epicenter	Encino California, The United States.	IV Light
26 mi (42 km) E from epicenter	Venice California, The United States.	IV Light
27 mi (43 km) NW from epicenter	Ventura California, The United States.	III Weak
27 mi (43 km) ENE from epicenter	Sherman Oaks California, The United States.	IV Light
27 mi (44 km) ENE from epicenter	North Hills California, The United States.	IV Light
28 mi (45 km) ENE from epicenter	Van Nuys California, The United States.	IV Light
28 mi (45 km) ENE from epicenter	Valley Glen California, The United States.	IV Light
29 mi (47 km) E from epicenter	Culver City California, The United States.	IV Light
31 mi (50 km) ENE from epicenter	North Hollywood California, The United States.	III Weak
31 mi (50 km) NE from epicenter	Santa Clarita California, The United States.	III Weak
32 mi (51 km) NNE from epicenter	Valencia California, The United States.	III Weak
32 mi (52 km) E from epicenter	Inglewood California, The United States.	III Weak
32 mi (52 km) E from epicenter	Universal City California, The United States.	III Weak
33 mi (53 km) ESE from epicenter	Redondo Beach California, The United States.	IV Light
34 mi (54 km) E from epicenter	Hollywood California, The United States.	III Weak
34 mi (54 km) ESE from epicenter	Hawthorne California, The United States.	III Weak
35 mi (56 km) E from epicenter	Koreatown California, The United States.	III Weak
35 mi (57 km) NE from epicenter	Canyon Country California, The United States.	III Weak
35 mi (57 km) ENE from epicenter	Burbank California, The United States.	III Weak
36 mi (58 km) ESE from epicenter	Gardena California, The United States.	III Weak
36 mi (58 km) ESE from epicenter	Torrance California, The United States.	III Weak
38 mi (61 km) E from epicenter	Glendale California, The United States.	III Weak
38 mi (61 km) E from epicenter	Los Angeles California, The United States.	III Weak
39 mi (63 km) ESE from epicenter	Carson California, The United States.	III Weak
40 mi (65 km) E from epicenter	Boyle Heights California, The United States.	III Weak
40 mi (65 km) E from epicenter	South Gate California, The United States.	III Weak
41 mi (66 km) ESE from epicenter	Compton California, The United States.	IV Light
42 mi (68 km) E from epicenter	East Los Angeles California, The United States.	III Weak
44 mi (71 km) E from epicenter	Pasadena California, The United States.	III Weak
45 mi (73 km) E from epicenter	Downey California, The United States.	III Weak
46 mi (74 km) ESE from epicenter	Long Beach California, The United States.	III Weak
58 mi (93 km) NE from epicenter	Palmdale California, The United States.	II Weak
59 mi (95 km) ESE from epicenter	Garden Grove California, The United States.	III Weak
59 mi (95 km) ESE from epicenter	Huntington Beach California, The United States.	III Weak
59 mi (95 km) ESE from epicenter	Anaheim California, The United States.	III Weak
247 km (153 mi) SE from epicenter	Tijuana Baja California, Mexico.	I Not felt

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is V.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

4 Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 4 smaller aftershocks were detected. At a distance of 0.2 mi (0.4 km) west of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 2 hrs later. It measured a magnitude of 3.1

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.
Classification	Magnitude	When	Where
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 4.6	Feb 9, 2024 01:47PM (Los Angeles Time)	-
Aftershock	M 3.0	3 mins later Feb 9, 2024 01:50PM (Los Angeles Time)	1 mi (1.6 km) SSW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.5	9 mins later Feb 9, 2024 01:56PM (Los Angeles Time)	1.3 mi (2.1 km) SE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.6	1 hr later Feb 9, 2024 02:58PM (Los Angeles Time)	0.6 mi (1 km) ESE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.1	2 hrs later Feb 9, 2024 03:41PM (Los Angeles Time)	0.2 mi (0.4 km) W from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this happen often in the region

Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since August 20th, 2023, when a 5.1 magnitude earthquake hit 29 mi (47 km) further northwest. An even stronger magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck on July 6th, 2019.

In total, 32 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.6 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 4 months.

Sources

Last updated 09/04/24 07:08 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.