A Shaky Start to the Year
If you’ve been feeling the ground shake more often lately, you’re not alone — Southern California has seen a surge in moderate earthquakes, especially in the Malibu area. In fact, 2024 recorded 15 seismic sequences with at least one magnitude 4 or higher quake — the most in the last 65 years. And 2025 is already continuing that trend.
So what’s going on beneath our feet?
Is Malibu an Earthquake Hotspot?
Malibu, known more for surfboards than seismic activity, has been surprisingly active. In just the last 13 months, it has experienced three quakes stronger than magnitude 4, including:
- A 4.6 in February 2024
- A 4.7 in September 2024
- A 4.1 in early 2025, followed by a magnitude 3.3 aftershock the next day
These events were strong enough to rattle windows, toss items off shelves, and even send the mayor diving under the kitchen table.
While these aren’t “Big Ones,” they are a sign that Malibu is very much part of California’s active seismic landscape. In fact, geologists say earthquakes up to magnitude 8 are possible here, particularly if multiple faults link up during a single event.
Why Are There So Many Earthquakes Right Now?
Here’s the truth: Scientists don’t fully know.
“Earthquakes pop off around the state, and it’s a little bit like popcorn,” explains Susan Hough, a seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). “Sometimes they bunch up for reasons that we don’t understand.”
And despite over a century of seismic monitoring, no one has found a reliable way to predict when a major quake will hit. The hope that smaller quakes would foreshadow larger ones hasn’t panned out. As Hough says, “Nobody has found patterns that are statistically meaningful before big earthquakes happen.”
In other words: while the recent string of earthquakes might feel like a warning, there’s no proven link between clusters of small quakes and impending major ones.
Fault Lines and Local Risks
Some of the recent Malibu quakes may be linked to the Malibu Fault or the Anacapa Fault, but smaller temblors often occur along unmapped, minor faults.
Across the wider region, activity has also picked up along the Puente Hills thrust fault system, which runs under Eastside L.A., the San Gabriel Valley, and Northern Orange County — placing millions of people in a high-risk zone.
Even historical quakes show Malibu is no stranger to seismic drama. In 1989, a magnitude 5.0 quake under Santa Monica Bay caused injuries and property damage. In 1979, a 5.2 quake struck during the Rose Bowl, startling fans mid-game.
Should We Be Worried?
Here’s the reassuring news: this isn’t out of the ordinary. While the clustering feels unusual, experts say it falls within the expected randomness of seismic activity.
“Sometimes [quakes] randomly happen close in time or location to each other, and sometimes randomly far apart with longer gaps,” said Mark Benthien from the Statewide California Earthquake Center.
So far, these quakes don’t suggest anything catastrophic is coming — but they’re a useful reminder to be prepared.
A Time to Reflect — and Prepare
This year’s increased activity also coincides with major milestones in California’s seismic history. 2024 marked 30 years since the Northridge earthquake (57 deaths) and 35 years since the Loma Prieta earthquake (63 deaths).
The USGS is even inviting Californians to share memories of those quakes to improve data on how different areas experienced the shaking. Human recollections, it turns out, are still crucial to science.
So, why are there so many earthquakes in Southern California — and especially in Malibu?
The short answer is: it’s part of life on the fault lines. While there’s no hidden signal or dramatic reason behind the recent uptick, it does highlight that Malibu — like the rest of California — sits atop one of the most active seismic zones in the world.
The best thing you can do? Stay informed, stay prepared, and maybe secure that fancy vase on your shelf.