Alhambra Rattled by Minor Quake as Seismic Activity Sparks Safety Concerns in LA

A magnitude 2.8 earthquake rattled the Los Angeles area on Monday morning, with its epicenter located in Alhambra, a neighborhood that has recently experienced a spate of seismic activity. Recorded at 10:04 a.m., the tremor sent weak shakes across the region, affecting residents in downtown Los Angeles, Burbank, Pasadena, East L.A., South L.A., Beverly Hills, and Universal City. Residents of Highland Park reported a gentle rocking sensation that lasted around three seconds, likening it to the thrum of a large truck passing by or a helicopter hovering above. In contrast, many in Glendale were unaware of the quake’s occurrence, as the shaking was so subtle that it went unnoticed by some. The frequency of earthquakes in and around the Alhambra area has raised eyebrows, especially since summer, when a series of tremors began to be felt more frequently. Notably, a magnitude 3.4 earthquake struck on June 2, followed by a more intense magnitude 4.4 quake on August 12, centered near the same location as Monday's minor shake. The August quake was particularly concerning, occurring near one of the region’s most potentially destructive fault systems, which could generate a magnitude 7.5 quake—a prospect that unsettles both residents and safety officials alike. Despite the increasing seismic activity, many suburbs in Los Angeles County, including Alhambra and neighboring Monterey Park, lack mandatory retrofitting plans for "soft-story" apartment buildings, which are known to be particularly vulnerable during earthquakes. These structures, often characterized by ground floors supported by slender poles, risk catastrophic collapse when subjected to lateral shaking. Officials in Alhambra, which has a population of around 82,000, and in Monterey Park, home to approximately 60,000 residents, have stated that they are monitoring the situation closely but have not yet implemented retrofit ordinances for these at-risk buildings. Similarly, South Pasadena, with a smaller population of 26,000, has no current plans to address the vulnerabilities posed by soft-story apartments. Although city officials once considered creating an inventory of such structures, resource constraints led to the abandonment of that initiative. In contrast, several cities in Southern California have taken proactive measures against these risks. Los Angeles, Torrance, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Culver City, West Hollywood, and Beverly Hills have all instituted requirements for retrofitting soft-story buildings to enhance earthquake safety. Just last week, Burbank joined this list by enacting its own seismic retrofit law. As the region continues to experience earthquakes, the lack of concrete action in some cities raises critical questions about community preparedness and safety. As residents seek reassurance, the call for comprehensive earthquake preparedness and the retrofitting of vulnerable buildings becomes ever more urgent. While the recent tremor was minor, it serves as a reminder of the seismic reality that Southern California faces and the need for greater attention to building safety standards in the crucial aftermath of each quake.