Edhat Staff
A 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the Channel Islands around 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
Edhat readers reported feeling a large jolt in Goleta, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Ventura, and even Los Angeles.
The epicenter of the quake is estimated to be approximately 29 km (18 miles) southwest of Santa Cruz Island’s east end with a hypocentral depth of 10 km (6 miles).
There are currently no tsunami threats, reported injuries, or structural damage. The Santa Barbara County Fire Department advises the public to be prepared for the next earthquake as all stations are checking their earthquake protocols.
View of cliffs along Santa Cruz Island during today’s earthquake. Dust rolls off cliffs as the temblor hit close to the Island, photo taken by a private fishing boat on scene during the quake. @VCFD pic.twitter.com/1lhCo9Cwqp
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) April 5, 2018
By an edhat reader
Did anyone else just feel an earthquake? I’m downtown, it was a big and sharp jolt.
Felt like a punch to the chest shook the hell outta my little place my fish and me too…
I felt it while I was at the spa. I knew immediately what was happening, but my assistant, who is both young and new to the country, was quite shaken. She thought that a plane had crashed or that there was a major accident outside. I usually do not do this, but I had the staff at the spa pour her 1/2 glass of wine to calm down her nerves!!!
Extra toilet paper..
Per USGS it was a 5.3 located centered about 57 km SW of Channel Islands Beach. Official time was 12:29 PDT.
Yup! Upper state. Whole building felt like it was swaying back and forth for a while!
Lots of rattling and then some big swooping rolls, definitely aquatic in origin. The biggest one we’ve had in a long time!