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Mild Earthquake Rocks Long Beach Leaving Residents Spooked and Talking
A 2.4-magnitude earthquake hit Southern California’s Long Beach, catching locals by surprise with a peculiar sound that had them thinking a car had hit their home
On the evening of June 1, 2025, a small but noticeable earthquake made its presence felt in Long Beach, California. The 2.4-magnitude tremor struck around 11:34 p.m. local time, shaking the coastal city and nearby areas including Signal Hill, Carson, and Rancho Palos Verdes. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the event and noted it occurred at a depth of 7.6 miles beneath the surface.
Although it was a minor earthquake by seismic standards, many residents took to social media to share their experiences, with several describing the event as a brief, sharp shake that sounded strangely like a car crashing into the side of their houses. One user wrote, “Very odd earthquake in Long Beach? Sounded like a car hit the side of the house. It was so brief!” Another echoed the sentiment, “Felt it in Signal Hill — a quick shake and then nothing.”
The Long Beach area, which sits in the seismically active Los Angeles Basin, has seen its fair share of earthquakes over the years. This small earthquake is part of the ongoing tectonic activity common in Southern California. While quakes of this size generally don’t cause damage, they are a reminder of the region’s vulnerability to larger seismic events.
In fact, the most devastating earthquake in Long Beach’s history occurred in 1933 when a massive 6.4-magnitude quake struck the city, causing extensive damage and claiming 120 lives. The memory of that catastrophic event still lingers in the minds of many residents, especially during even the slightest of tremors.
Despite this, Long Beach regularly experiences minor earthquakes, with about 59 tremors of magnitude 2.0 to 3.0 occurring each year in the greater Los Angeles area. Most of these go unnoticed, but seismologists keep a close watch on the area, particularly given the proximity to major fault lines such as the San Andreas Fault and the Newport-Inglewood Fault.
Though the June 1 earthquake did not result in any injuries or significant property damage, it serves as a stark reminder for all Southern Californians to be prepared for seismic events of any size. Emergency management officials continue to encourage residents to be aware of earthquake safety protocols and to have a preparedness plan in place.
As Long Beach residents shook off the unsettling tremor, the reminder of California’s constant seismic activity is always there. Whether it’s a tiny shake or a large event, being prepared is key in the land of earthquakes.