PICO RIVERA, Calif. -- A moderate earthquake shook Los Angeles County early Tuesday, waking many who were asleep at the time.
The magnitude-4.4 quake struck at 4:04 a.m. and was centered 1 mile east-northeast of Pico Rivera, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
There were no reports of serious damage or injuries.
About an hour after the quake, a 10-foot portion of the southbound 5 Freeway at Paramount Blvd. in the Downey area was damaged.
The roadway buckled, prompting the closure of the number 3 and 4 lanes for more than an hour.
Crews had the area repaired by 6:30 a.m., and the lanes reopened.
CHP Officer Daniel Asleson said later the quake probably did not cause the buckling. Damage was reported a day earlier in the lane, which is heavily used by big-rigs.
Dozens of viewers called KTLA to report feeling the temblor, incuding those in Hawthorne, Whittier and West Covina who said they had items fall off shelves.
Many were awakened by the quake, which lasted a few seconds in the Hollywood area and ended with a quick jolt.
Those in Whittier, closer to the epicenter, said the shaking lasted longer.
Residents as far away as San Diego and Santa Clarita reported feeling the quake.
In 1987, the Whittier Narrows earthquake struck in the same area and was blamed for eight deaths.
The 5.9-magnitude quake caused more than $350 million in damage.
Tuesday's jolt was probably not related to the Whittier Narrows quake because too much time has elapsed, said California Institute of Technology seismologist Kate Hutton.
Scientists have not yet determined which fault was responsible for the latest quake.
Hutton said there's a 5-percent chance that Tuesday's temblor is a precursor to a larger event, but the likelihood diminishes over time.
On the Web:
Be Prepared! Important Earthquake Preparedness Information at redcross.org
The magnitude-4.4 quake struck at 4:04 a.m. and was centered 1 mile east-northeast of Pico Rivera, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
There were no reports of serious damage or injuries.
About an hour after the quake, a 10-foot portion of the southbound 5 Freeway at Paramount Blvd. in the Downey area was damaged.
The roadway buckled, prompting the closure of the number 3 and 4 lanes for more than an hour.
Crews had the area repaired by 6:30 a.m., and the lanes reopened.
CHP Officer Daniel Asleson said later the quake probably did not cause the buckling. Damage was reported a day earlier in the lane, which is heavily used by big-rigs.
Dozens of viewers called KTLA to report feeling the temblor, incuding those in Hawthorne, Whittier and West Covina who said they had items fall off shelves.
Many were awakened by the quake, which lasted a few seconds in the Hollywood area and ended with a quick jolt.
Those in Whittier, closer to the epicenter, said the shaking lasted longer.
Residents as far away as San Diego and Santa Clarita reported feeling the quake.
In 1987, the Whittier Narrows earthquake struck in the same area and was blamed for eight deaths.
The 5.9-magnitude quake caused more than $350 million in damage.
Tuesday's jolt was probably not related to the Whittier Narrows quake because too much time has elapsed, said California Institute of Technology seismologist Kate Hutton.
Scientists have not yet determined which fault was responsible for the latest quake.
Hutton said there's a 5-percent chance that Tuesday's temblor is a precursor to a larger event, but the likelihood diminishes over time.
On the Web:
Be Prepared! Important Earthquake Preparedness Information at redcross.org
