Southern California has recorded a new high in the number of earthquakes with magnitudes of 4.0 and above in a single year. A 4.7 magnitude earthquake struck Malibu on Thursday, followed by five aftershocks.
The usual annual average for earthquakes in this area is around eight, but this year has seen 14 earthquakes, surpassing the previous record of 13. Warnings indicate the potential occurrence of the “Big One” on the San Andreas Fault, a massive earthquake that could cause significant damage and human casualties.
Despite the increased seismic activity, scientists cannot accurately predict when the Big One will occur, but new studies may help improve the estimates of the timing for large earthquakes.
