Quake rattles Los Angeles

2010-03-16 15:15

Los Angeles - A 4.4-magnitude earthquake struck near Los Angeles on Tuesday, awakening residents but causing no apparent damage in the second largest US city, the US Geological Survey and witnesses said.

Police at the epicentre of Pico Rivera, 18km south-east of downtown Los Angeles, said there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the light quake.

It hit at 04:04 (11:04 GMT) and lasted a few seconds, rousing many from their beds and prompting local television stations to issue bulletins. The quake was at a depth of nearly 18km on the Whittier fault.

Home to 10 million people, Los Angeles County had its last strong earthquake in Northridge in 1994, which killed some 60 people.

- Reuters