Shallow M4.7 Earthquake hit near Thousand Oaks in The United States on Thursday Morning.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on September 12th, 2024. Last updated November 11th, 2024.

In the morning of Thursday September 12th, 2024, a shallow MAG-4.7 earthquake hit under land 8 miles from Thousand Oaks in The United States. 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, 8 miles (13 km) south of Thousand Oaks in California. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 7 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Sep 12, 2024 07:28AM (Los Angeles Time) - Sep 12, 2024 14:28 Universal Time.
Location:	8 mi south of Thousand Oaks, California, The United States. Coordinates 34°3'23"N 118°48'46"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 4.7 Detected by 13 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.2 .
Depth:	7 mi (11 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 (2 mi from the sea).	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 4.7. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 7 mi (11 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 23 million people exposed to shaking

An estimated 23 million have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

An estimated 87,450 people were exposed to level V. At this level, moderate shaking and very light damage can be expected. The majority of people (roughly 14 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
2,825,000	I	Not noticable	None
6,941,000	II	Very weak	None
14,200,000	III	Weak	Probably none
2,095,000	IV	Light	Likely none
87,450	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

This earthquake struck within proximity of multiple countries. The United States and Mexico are both within 300km distance of its epicenter.

Located 6 miles (10 km) south-southwest of the epicenter of this earthquake, Agoura Hills (California, The United States) is the nearest significant population center. Agoura Hills experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly V. That level implies moderate shaking and very light damage.

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Los Angeles is located 32 mi to the east and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Thousand Oaks is located 8 mi to the north and experienced an intensity of V (moderate shaking, very light damage). Long Beach is located 41 mi to the east-southeast and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
6 mi (10 km) NNE from epicenter	Agoura Hills California, The United States.	V Moderate
7 mi (12 km) NE from epicenter	Agoura California, The United States.	V Moderate
8 mi (13 km) N from epicenter	Thousand Oaks California, The United States.	V Moderate
12 mi (20 km) NE from epicenter	Calabasas California, The United States.	IV Light
14 mi (22 km) NE from epicenter	West Hills California, The United States.	IV Light
14 mi (23 km) NE from epicenter	Woodland Hills California, The United States.	IV Light
15 mi (24 km) N from epicenter	Simi Valley California, The United States.	IV Light
16 mi (25 km) NE from epicenter	Canoga Park California, The United States.	IV Light
16 mi (26 km) NNW from epicenter	Moorpark California, The United States.	IV Light
17 mi (27 km) NW from epicenter	Camarillo California, The United States.	IV Light
19 mi (30 km) NE from epicenter	Chatsworth California, The United States.	III Weak
19 mi (30 km) E from epicenter	Santa Monica California, The United States.	IV Light
19 mi (31 km) ENE from epicenter	Encino California, The United States.	IV Light
20 mi (32 km) NE from epicenter	Northridge California, The United States.	IV Light
21 mi (33 km) ESE from epicenter	Venice California, The United States.	IV Light
22 mi (35 km) ENE from epicenter	Sherman Oaks California, The United States.	IV Light
22 mi (36 km) ENE from epicenter	Van Nuys California, The United States.	IV Light
22 mi (36 km) NE from epicenter	North Hills California, The United States.	IV Light
23 mi (37 km) ENE from epicenter	Valley Glen California, The United States.	IV Light
23 mi (37 km) WNW from epicenter	Oxnard California, The United States.	III Weak
24 mi (38 km) E from epicenter	Beverly Hills California, The United States.	III Weak
24 mi (39 km) E from epicenter	Culver City California, The United States.	III Weak
26 mi (42 km) ENE from epicenter	North Hollywood California, The United States.	III Weak
27 mi (43 km) ENE from epicenter	Universal City California, The United States.	III Weak
27 mi (44 km) ESE from epicenter	Inglewood California, The United States.	III Weak
28 mi (45 km) ESE from epicenter	Redondo Beach California, The United States.	III Weak
28 mi (45 km) E from epicenter	Hollywood California, The United States.	III Weak
28 mi (45 km) ESE from epicenter	Hawthorne California, The United States.	III Weak
28 mi (45 km) NNE from epicenter	Santa Clarita California, The United States.	III Weak
29 mi (47 km) E from epicenter	Koreatown California, The United States.	III Weak
29 mi (47 km) NNE from epicenter	Valencia California, The United States.	III Weak
30 mi (48 km) ENE from epicenter	Burbank California, The United States.	III Weak
31 mi (50 km) ESE from epicenter	Gardena California, The United States.	III Weak
31 mi (50 km) ESE from epicenter	Torrance California, The United States.	III Weak
32 mi (51 km) NE from epicenter	Canyon Country California, The United States.	III Weak
32 mi (51 km) WNW from epicenter	Ventura California, The United States.	III Weak
32 mi (52 km) E from epicenter	Los Angeles California, The United States.	III Weak
32 mi (52 km) E from epicenter	Glendale California, The United States.	III Weak
34 mi (55 km) ESE from epicenter	Carson California, The United States.	III Weak
35 mi (56 km) E from epicenter	Boyle Heights California, The United States.	III Weak
35 mi (57 km) E from epicenter	South Gate California, The United States.	III Weak
35 mi (57 km) ESE from epicenter	Compton California, The United States.	III Weak
37 mi (59 km) E from epicenter	East Los Angeles California, The United States.	III Weak
39 mi (62 km) E from epicenter	Pasadena California, The United States.	III Weak
40 mi (64 km) E from epicenter	Downey California, The United States.	III Weak
41 mi (66 km) ESE from epicenter	Long Beach California, The United States.	III Weak
45 mi (72 km) E from epicenter	El Monte California, The United States.	III Weak
53 mi (86 km) ESE from epicenter	Garden Grove California, The United States.	III Weak
53 mi (86 km) ESE from epicenter	Anaheim California, The United States.	III Weak
54 mi (87 km) ESE from epicenter	Huntington Beach California, The United States.	III Weak
58 mi (94 km) ESE from epicenter	Santa Ana California, The United States.	III Weak
241 km (150 mi) SE from epicenter	Tijuana Baja California, Mexico.	I Not felt

Earthquake Intensity Map

The graph below overlays a map of the region around the epicenter with earthquake intensity data provided by the US Geographic Survey. The highest intensity level detected 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.

8 Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 8 smaller aftershocks were detected. At a distance of 0.6 mi (0.9 km) east-southeast of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 2 hrs later. It measured a magnitude of 3.4

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 4.7	Sep 12, 2024 07:28AM (Los Angeles Time)	-
Aftershock	M 2.5	2 mins later Sep 12, 2024 07:30AM (Los Angeles Time)	0.9 mi (1.4 km) W from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.4	1 hr later Sep 12, 2024 08:40AM (Los Angeles Time)	1 mi (1.6 km) ENE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.8	2 hrs later Sep 12, 2024 09:15AM (Los Angeles Time)	0.4 mi (0.7 km) E from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.5	2 hrs later Sep 12, 2024 09:16AM (Los Angeles Time)	0.7 mi (1.2 km) SSW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.4	2 hrs later Sep 12, 2024 09:37AM (Los Angeles Time)	0.6 mi (0.9 km) ESE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.5	5 hrs later Sep 12, 2024 12:01PM (Los Angeles Time)	0.6 mi (0.9 km) ESE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.2	21 hrs later Sep 13, 2024 04:56AM (Los Angeles Time)	0.4 mi (0.7 km) NE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.5	1 day later Sep 13, 2024 04:34PM (Los Angeles Time)	0.6 mi (0.9 km) SE from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

The risk of aftershocks decreases rapidly over time. Usually, aftershocks are at least one order of magnitude lower than a main shock.

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 7th, 2024, when a 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit 74 mi (120 km) further north-northwest. An even stronger magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck on July 6th, 2019.

In total, 25 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.7 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 5 months.

Sources

Last updated 11/11/24 07:58 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.