Written by on . Last updated November 2nd, 2024.

A shallow M4.0 earthquake struck under land 4 miles from Ontario in The United States deep in the night of Sunday October 6th, 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.

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Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in The United States, 4 miles (7 km) south-east of Ontario in California. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 3 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time: Oct 6, 2024 03:51AM (Los Angeles Time)
- Oct 6, 2024 10:51 Universal Time.
Location: 4 mi SE of Ontario, California, The United States.
Coordinates 34°1'25"N 117°35'32"W.
Map: Map of area around epicenter.
Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude: MAG 4.0
Detected by 249 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.2 .
Depth: 3 mi (5 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 Not this earthquake.
This earthquake appears to have struck on land far from any coast.
Not this earthquake.
This earthquake had a magnitude of 4. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.
This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 3 mi (5 km). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Nearby towns and cities

The United States and Mexico are both located within 300km distance of the epicenter of the earthquake.

The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Ontario in California, The United States. Ontario is located 4 miles (7 km) south-east of the epicenter. The intensity of shaking and damage in Ontario is estimated to be around level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (light shaking, likely no damage).

Major cities near this earthquake: Los Angeles is located 37 mi to the west and experienced an intensity of II (very weak shaking, no damage). Ontario is located 4 mi to the northwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Rancho Cucamonga is located 6 mi to the north and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely 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

Distance Place Intensity (MMI)
4 mi (7 km)
NW from epicenter
Ontario

California, The United States.
IV
Light
4 mi (7 km)
SSE from epicenter
Eastvale

California, The United States.
V
Moderate
5 mi (8 km)
ESE from epicenter
Jurupa Valley

California, The United States.
IV
Light
6 mi (9 km)
W from epicenter
Chino

California, The United States.
IV
Light
6 mi (9 km)
N from epicenter
Rancho Cucamonga

California, The United States.
IV
Light
6 mi (10 km)
E from epicenter
Glen Avon

California, The United States.
IV
Light
6 mi (10 km)
NNW from epicenter
Upland

California, The United States.
IV
Light
7 mi (11 km)
WNW from epicenter
Montclair

California, The United States.
IV
Light
7 mi (11 km)
SSE from epicenter
Norco

California, The United States.
IV
Light
9 mi (14 km)
NW from epicenter
Claremont

California, The United States.
IV
Light
9 mi (15 km)
WNW from epicenter
Pomona

California, The United States.
IV
Light
10 mi (16 km)
ENE from epicenter
Fontana

California, The United States.
III
Weak
10 mi (16 km)
WSW from epicenter
Chino Hills

California, The United States.
III
Weak
11 mi (17 km)
S from epicenter
Corona

California, The United States.
III
Weak
11 mi (17 km)
E from epicenter
Rubidoux

California, The United States.
III
Weak
11 mi (18 km)
WNW from epicenter
La Verne

California, The United States.
III
Weak
12 mi (19 km)
ENE from epicenter
Bloomington

California, The United States.
III
Weak
12 mi (20 km)
ESE from epicenter
Riverside

California, The United States.
IV
Light
12 mi (20 km)
W from epicenter
Diamond Bar

California, The United States.
III
Weak
14 mi (22 km)
ENE from epicenter
Rialto

California, The United States.
III
Weak
14 mi (22 km)
WNW from epicenter
San Dimas

California, The United States.
III
Weak
16 mi (25 km)
SW from epicenter
Yorba Linda

California, The United States.
III
Weak
16 mi (25 km)
W from epicenter
Walnut

California, The United States.
III
Weak
16 mi (26 km)
ENE from epicenter
Colton

California, The United States.
III
Weak
17 mi (28 km)
WNW from epicenter
Covina

California, The United States.
III
Weak
17 mi (28 km)
WNW from epicenter
Glendora

California, The United States.
III
Weak
18 mi (29 km)
W from epicenter
Rowland Heights

California, The United States.
III
Weak
18 mi (29 km)
ENE from epicenter
San Bernardino

California, The United States.
III
Weak
19 mi (31 km)
SW from epicenter
Placentia

California, The United States.
III
Weak
20 mi (32 km)
WNW from epicenter
Azusa

California, The United States.
III
Weak
20 mi (32 km)
W from epicenter
West Covina

California, The United States.
III
Weak
21 mi (34 km)
WSW from epicenter
La Habra

California, The United States.
III
Weak
22 mi (35 km)
WSW from epicenter
Fullerton

California, The United States.
III
Weak
22 mi (35 km)
ESE from epicenter
Moreno Valley

California, The United States.
III
Weak
22 mi (35 km)
W from epicenter
Baldwin Park

California, The United States.
III
Weak
22 mi (36 km)
SW from epicenter
Orange

California, The United States.
III
Weak
22 mi (36 km)
SW from epicenter
Anaheim

California, The United States.
III
Weak
24 mi (38 km)
SW from epicenter
Tustin

California, The United States.
III
Weak
24 mi (38 km)
E from epicenter
Redlands

California, The United States.
III
Weak
25 mi (40 km)
SW from epicenter
Santa Ana

California, The United States.
III
Weak
25 mi (40 km)
W from epicenter
El Monte

California, The United States.
III
Weak
25 mi (41 km)
W from epicenter
Whittier

California, The United States.
II
Weak
25 mi (41 km)
WSW from epicenter
Buena Park

California, The United States.
III
Weak
27 mi (43 km)
SW from epicenter
Garden Grove

California, The United States.
III
Weak
28 mi (45 km)
SSW from epicenter
Irvine

California, The United States.
III
Weak
29 mi (47 km)
WSW from epicenter
Norwalk

California, The United States.
II
Weak
33 mi (53 km)
WNW from epicenter
Pasadena

California, The United States.
II
Weak
34 mi (55 km)
SW from epicenter
Huntington Beach

California, The United States.
III
Weak
37 mi (60 km)
W from epicenter
Los Angeles

California, The United States.
II
Weak
39 mi (62 km)
WNW from epicenter
Glendale

California, The United States.
II
Weak
39 mi (62 km)
WSW from epicenter
Long Beach

California, The United States.
II
Weak
178 km (111 mi)
SSE from epicenter
Tijuana

Baja California, Mexico.
I
Not felt
176 mi (284 km)
NNE from epicenter
Pahrump

Nevada, The United States.
Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is V. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

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.

Aftershocks detected

This main shock was followed by 1 smaller aftershock. At a distance of 14 mi (23 km) south-southwest of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 2 days later. It measured a magnitude of 2.5

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Classification Magnitude When Where
Main Shock M 2.5 Oct 4, 2024 01:18PM
(Los Angeles Time)
-
Aftershock M 2.5 2 days later
Oct 6, 2024 04:04AM (Los Angeles Time)
14 mi (23 km)
SSW from Main Shock.
Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.

More earthquakes coming?

Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.

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 September 12th, 2024, when a 4.7 magnitude earthquake hit 70 mi (113 km) further west. An even stronger magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck on July 6th, 2019.

In total, 254 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4 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 14 days.

Sources

Last updated 02/11/24 01:18 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.

  1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake ci40752807
  2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20241006_0000089
  3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
  4. Google Maps: Static API
  5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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