Los Angeles Shaken: 3.9-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes After the Oscars

In a startling turn of events, Los Angeles experienced a 3.9-magnitude earthquake shortly after the grand celebration of the 2025 Academy Awards. The tremor jolted the city at approximately 10:13 p.m. on Sunday, sending shockwaves across various neighborhoods and leaving the public and officials on high alert.

Tremors Felt Across LA

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake’s epicenter was located near North Hollywood. Witnesses reported feeling the shaking across a wide area, with residents in Pasadena, Long Beach, San Fernando Valley, Torrance, Redondo Beach, and Glendale all acknowledging the quake. NBC Los Angeles confirmed that while the tremor was detectable in many regions, there were no immediate reports of injuries or property damage.

Even in the wake of a celebrity-filled evening, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded swiftly, announcing on social media platform X that they would not activate their “earthquake mode,” a protocol that involves assessing the damage caused by significant earthquakes. The decision indicated that initial reports did not warrant an urgent investigation into structural integrity or public safety concerns.

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Earthquake Hits Post-Oscars Celebration

This unexpected seismic event occurred mere hours after the 97th Academy Awards concluded at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Famous personalities were still reveling in the excitement of awards night when the earthquake shook the ground beneath them. Notably, a live stream of an extravagant afterparty hosted by Vanity Fair at the Wallis Annenberg Center captured the moment, with guests visibly startled by the tremors. The venue is located just four miles from the venue of the Oscars, indicating that the afterparty was not exempt from nature’s surprising intervention.

Eyewitness accounts mentioned that over 9,000 individuals took to the USGS’s “Did you feel it?” tool to document their experiences with the quake. Attendees at the Governor’s Ball held at the Ovation Hollywood Complex were also reportedly caught off guard as the earthquake rocked the venue, adding a jolt of excitement to an already illustrious night, as recounted by sources speaking to the Hollywood Reporter.

Increasing Earthquake Activity in California

The recent quake is the latest in a series of seismic events that have struck California in 2025. Just last month, the Malibu area experienced two quakes measuring 3.7 and 3.5 in magnitude. In February, the tremors continued near Hayward, located just south of San Francisco, where two earthquakes measuring 3.4 and 3.2 struck around midday on February 14. These recent movements in the earth serve as a reminder of California’s vulnerability to earthquakes, but they also illustrate how adaptable and responsive the community has become due to years of experience with such natural phenomena.

As a populous urban center and a hub for entertainment and culture, Los Angeles has developed systems and protocols to cope with the unpredictability of earthquakes. Although instances of devastation are not uncommon, the city’s infrastructure has evolved to handle such tremors with minimal disruption, as evidenced by the absence of reported injuries or serious structural damage following the recent seismic activity.

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In the days to come, residents and visitors alike may remain vigilant as the region continues to settle from Sunday night’s tremors. The series of earthquakes in various locations across California underscore the ever-present need for preparedness and awareness regarding earthquake safety protocols. As the Golden State remains subject to geological activity, it’s essential for its inhabitants to stay informed and be ready for anything that may come their way.

For now, the sun sets over Hollywood, and the echoes of excitement from the Academy Awards linger in the air alongside the memories of a brief but startling tremor that reminded all of us just how close we live to the raw power of nature.