Small Earthquake Rumbles in Los Angeles Area

The authorities said there were no initial reports of damage from the quake, which struck in the hills west of Malibu.

Residents of parts of Los Angeles County felt a minor earthquake centered west of Malibu, Calif., on Sunday afternoon. Preliminary estimates showed that the quake had a magnitude of 4.1, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Within five minutes of the initial impact, aftershocks of magnitude 2.5, 3.0 and 2.8 rumbled in the area, the agency said.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The Los Angeles Fire Department said the earthquake was not strong enough to have triggered an official earthquake response.

Still, many residents felt the mild shaking, even if they themselves were hardly rattled.

Alan Delarosa, 47, a manager at Geoffrey’s Malibu, an open-air restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean, was in an office when the quake occurred, shortly after 1 p.m. “I basically felt the room rocking back and forth,” he said.

The disturbance lasted about three seconds, he said. Once it was over, Mr. Delarosa rushed to check on his staff and guests, some of whom felt it. He was worried the gas line could have broken. But his kitchen staff didn’t even register the movement. The gas line was safe. There was no broken glass.