4.0 Northridge Aftershock Rattles Santa Clarita Valley
SANTA CLARITA — A magnitude 4.0 aftershock of the 1994 Northridge earthquake awakened many residents in the Santa Clarita Valley and nearby areas early Thursday, but there were no reports of damage or injuries.
Caltech scientists said the 2:57 a.m. temblor was centered four miles west of Valencia in an area of frequent seismic activity over the past five years. There have been more than 15,000 aftershocks since the 6.7 Northridge quake, with 60 of them 4.0 or stronger.
Maps produced by seismologist Dave Wald of the U.S. Geological Survey showed the direction of Thursday’s quake was to the west, and the heaviest shaking occurred to the west of the epicenter, mainly in the Santa Susana mountains.
The strongest shaking was rated at V on the modified Mercalli scale, which is a Roman-numeralized description of the intensity of shaking on 12 different levels.
Level V indicates the shaking west of the epicenter Thursday was light but that it could be felt outdoors, would awaken sleepers, spill some liquids, displace or upset small objects, move pictures and swing doors open or closed.
The quake was felt from Palmdale to Ventura and south to Burbank, although most of that larger area did not feel it as strongly.
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