Magnitude 3.4 aftershock rocks Los Angeles area Friday morning

A magnitude 3.4 aftershock was felt throughout the Los Angeles area on Friday morning, less than 24 hours after a 4.7 rocked much of Southern California.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the aftershock was reported at 4:56 a.m. about 3.7 miles north of Malibu, about one-half of a mile south of the epicenter for Thursday’s quake. The aftershock had a depth of about 6.5 miles.

Friday morning’s aftershock was one of many, but easily the strongest yet. The USGS Impact Map shows that it was felt throughout the Los Angeles area and extended as far as Santa Barbara and Orange counties.

As seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones pointed out on Thursday, the high rate of earthquakes felt in Southern California in recent weeks is more likely to be a random occurrence than a pattern.

“Yes we are feeling (more quakes this year) but it’s not yet statistically significant,” Jones said in a news conference Thursday. “Seismologists look for patterns — everybody looks for patterns — that’s why we have myths of earthquake weather and animals and all of these things are us trying to form a pattern of what is inherently a random distribution.”

What to do in an earthquake

During an earthquake, experts say knowing the proper steps to protect yourself and minimize injury is crucial. The California Department of Public Health provides detailed guidelines on what to do during such events. Here are the key points:

Drop, Cover, and Hold On:

Drop: Immediately drop down onto your hands and knees. This position prevents you from being knocked over and allows you to stay low and crawl to safety if necessary.

Cover: Use one arm to protect your head and neck, and if possible, take shelter under a sturdy table or desk. If no shelter is available, get down next to an interior wall away from windows. Stay on your knees and bend over to protect vital organs.

Hold On: Hold on to your shelter until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if it shifts.