Crime & Safety

3.9 Quake Jolts Orange County

Morning temblor was centered near San Juan Capistrano.

A magnitude-3.9 earthquake shook Orange County on Monday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake hit at 10:37 a.m. and was centered about 1 mile west of San Juan Capistrano, 2 miles north-northeast of Dana Point and 3 miles south-southeast of Laguna Niguel, according to the USGS. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station has not been impacted by the earthquake, according to spokesman Scott Andresen. He said the plant has teams of seismic professionals on site who monitored the station for signs of earthquake damage.

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Though the quake was centered in San Juan, the police chief there said no damage or injuries have been reported there, "only a few inquiries at our dispatch center."

The Orange County Fire Authority said that damage appeared to be mostly insignificant.

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“We didn’t receive any 911 calls for any injuries or damage, but did receive a ton of inquiries,” said Marc Stone, spokesman for the OCFA. “Everything panned out good and it was a good reminder to be prepared for the big one.”

Did you feel the shaking?

The jolt was reportedly felt as far away as Glendale, Riverside and Temecula.

Patch editor Martin Henderson was in Lake Forest at the time and described it feeling "like a card being slid off the top of a deck to the player across from you."

Some residents tweeted their experience:

  • MV librarian Allison Tran: "That was quite a shaker. You better believe I dove right under my desk."
  • Rick Moore of San Juan: "Earthquake was only 3.9 but centered nearby in San Juan Capistrano - really felt big here. Large bang followed by shaking."
  • Dawn Perkins: "Yep, that was an earthquake!! Little one, 3.9...but the jolt scared the crap outta me!"
  • Abe G. Salen: "I'm also on the 8th floor of a bldg, so the jolt's size felt bigger than likely those on the ground."
  • Suzie Vercruse in Newport Beach: "Was a hard fast strike in Newport Beach on the ocean in a 3 story that sways like a rubber duck on water with the liquefaction too much hope thats it."

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