Southern California Hit With Over 70 Earthquakes As Experts Warn ‘Big One’ May Strike Sooner Than Previously Thought

A swarm of earthquakes rattled Southern California Saturday, with much of the seismic activity centered directly beneath South Los Angeles.

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The flurry included a 2.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Westmont at approximately 2:30 a.m. Saturday, and then around 14 hours later at roughly 4:30 p.m., the same area endured a 2.6-magnitude quake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

In total, more than 70 earthquakes were recorded throughout the area, though many registered as microquakes below magnitude 2.0. (RELATED: Tropical Depression Fifteen-E Develops In Eastern Pacific As Norbert Weakens)

Offshore, two quakes struck southeast of Catalina Island within minutes of each other just prior to 4:15 a.m.

The Southern California cluster took place as a 3.4-magnitude earthquake hit the Bay Area overnight Saturday, and came roughly a week after a 3.1-magnitude tremor shook South Los Angeles.

The surge of activity comes alongside renewed alarm over California’s San Andreas Fault following a new study, with experts warning the long-dreaded “Big One” could strike earlier than anticipated.

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Dr. Lucy Jones, a Caltech seismologist, cautioned that such an event wouldn’t simply be a fleeting shockwave, noting that her models show sweeping, catastrophic fallout across California.

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, announced they have developed a method aimed at identifying the hotspots for some of the planet’s largest seismic events.

The method operates by tracking accumulated tectonic stress along major fault lines, allowing scientists to better isolate which locations face the highest risk of a massive rupture.

The team’s work centers on subduction zones, geological regions where one tectonic plate slides beneath another.

These convergence zones are responsible for generating Earth’s largest earthquakes, including massive ruptures of magnitude 8.5 and above.

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