Claims News Service, July 30, 2:55 p.m. EST — An earthquake shook the Greater Los Angeles area at 11:42 a.m. local time on July 29, rattling buildings but causing little major damage. Reports said the earthquake was the strongest to hit the region since 1987 (when a 5.9 magnitude earthquake occurred) and was felt as far south as San Diego.

The earthquake, measuring a 5.4 on the Richter scale, had an epicenter around 28 miles east-southeast of downtown Los Angeles, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). At least 50 aftershocks have hit the region, the strongest of which was 3.8 magnitude. There have been no reports of serious injuries.

According a report by Guy Carpenter, Officials at Los Angeles International Airport said that after initial inspections, operations were running as normal and that no flight schedules had been affected. Ports, power grids and nearby nuclear power plants all reported no structural damage or interruption in service. Officials said the heaviest shaking was northwest of the epicenter near suburban Diamond Bar, but added buildings constructed in the region since the 1930s should be able to withstand the kind of shaking felt.

However, residents located close to the earthquake's epicenter did report some damage following the earthquake. City officials said minor structural damage was reported throughout Los Angeles. Offices and restaurants were evacuated and some residents reported cracks in the walls of their homes.

The Office of Emergency Services received scattered reports of minor infrastructure damage, including broken water mains and gas lines. The damage was in the greater Los Angeles area. Objects were also knocked from shelves and some windows were broken, according to reports.

EQECAT said it expects market losses for the earthquake to be less than $100 million. AIR Worldwide added it does not expect significant insured losses from the event as the strict building codes in California will limit damage to properties in the area.

Tuesday's quake was far less powerful than the 6.7 magnitude Northridge earthquake that toppled bridges and buildings in California in 1994. Officials have since strengthened building codes in the state for new construction and required retrofitting of older buildings. The California Institute of Technology estimated that Tuesday's quake released only 1% of the energy unleashed by the Northridge earthquake.

For more information, visit Guy Carpenter's HYPERLINK “http://www.guycarp.com/portalapp/publicsite/catdocument.pdf?instratreportid=1711″ Instrat report [PDF].

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Special Reports /

Expected Losses from California Quake Low

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