An earthquake centered several miles northwest of Malibu, Calif., rattled residents across the Los Angeles area on Friday afternoon, sparking a typical flurry of posts on social media, though the authorities said no major damage or injuries had been reported.
The quake happened at 1:47 p.m. local time and had a preliminary magnitude of 4.6, according to the United States Geological Survey. It was followed by several smaller aftershocks.
Residents across the county reported feeling a shake that lasted for about 10 seconds, with plates clinking in cupboards and plants swaying slightly.
Some residents, however, were surprised to learn of the earthquake and said they had not felt anything.
“We’ve gotten a few calls but there’s no structural damage being reported right now,” said Kaitlyn Aldana, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
No significant damage was reported in the city of Los Angeles, according to Capt. Erik Scott, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department. Mr. Scott said the agency was in what it refers to as “earthquake mode.”
“When the ground shakes in the city of L.A., the L.A.F.D. enters this mode and firefighters from all 106 fire stations provide a complete survey of 470 square miles in greater Los Angeles to ensure safety,” he said.
Schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District sent out automated calls noting that students had remained in their classes.
The quake came hours after a 5.7-magnitude temblor shook the Big Island of Hawaii. According to the U.S.G.S, the earthquake struck Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano. There were no immediate reports of serious damage.
Dr. Lucy Jones, Southern California’s best-known earthquake expert, told KTLA that the two quakes were not connected. She added that, as is always the case, there was a 5 percent chance of a larger earthquake in Southern California later in the week.
The earthquake also came on the heels of an epic atmospheric river that dumped rain on Los Angeles for several days, breaking precipitation records in the area, flooding streets and spurring mudslides.
Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles posted on social media that city teams would continue to monitor for any damage.
In Malibu, no damage or injuries were reported from the quake, according to the city’s mayor, Steve Uhring, who has lived there for more than three decades.
“This is the strongest one we’ve had in quite a while,” Mr. Uhring said. “I remember one a while back that was a roller and those are scary because they keep going on, but this was a quick hit, was over and that’s it.”
Mr. Uhring said that he did not feel any foreshocks and that the earthquake’s shaking knocked over only the shampoo in his bathroom. He joked that his city, known for its affluence and coastal views, was often home to natural disasters.
“In between flood, fires and earthquakes, I don’t know how many people are going to be moving to Malibu in the near future,” he said.
But as KTLA broadcast live footage of Malibu from its news helicopter, the anchors marveled at the breathtaking view. The hills were lush and green in the sunlight, the ocean bright turquoise. The rain had left the air crystal clear.
