Swarm of small quakes strikes Southern California coast

A series of small earthquakes rumbles off Southern California coast. FILE PHOTO (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

LOS ANGELES – A magnitude 3.6 earthquake struck off the coast of Dana Point in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported Monday.

It was centered 32 miles southwest of Dana Point and 28.9 miles southeast of Avalon on Catalina Island and struck at 5:32 p.m..

It was the strongest among small earthquakes that struck in waters off Catalina Island Sunday.

The first quake, a magnitude 3.1, struck at 4:11 p.m. and was followed by a magnitude 2.5 aftershock 34.1 miles southwest of f the coast of Dana Point and San Clemente and nearly 29 miles off Catalina, according to the USGS.

The third quake, a 3.6, struck at 5:32 p.m.

It was 32.5 miles southwest of San Clemente and 34.9 miles southwest of Laguna Beach.

There were no reports of injuries or damage.

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How to stay safe during an earthquake

The California Department of Public Health provides the following safety tips.

If you are indoors during an earthquake:

• DROP to the ground, take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture, and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in a doorway or an inside corner of the building.
• Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could shatter or fall on you, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
• If you are in bed, stay there and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.
• Do not use a doorway unless you know it is a strongly supported, load-bearing doorway. Many inside doorways are lightly constructed and do not offer protection.
• Do not leave a building during the shaking. Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to leave/get outside.
• DO NOT use the elevators – if the electricity goes out you could be trapped.
• Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.

If you are outdoors during an earthquake:

• Stay outside and move away from buildings. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits and alongside exterior walls.
• Stay away from streetlights and utility wires.
• Once in the open, lay flat on the ground and stay there until the shaking stops.

If you are driving:

• Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.
• Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

(With CNS report)

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