5th in Series of Small Quakes Hits the Area

PORT HUENEME — The fifth and largest earthquake in a series of minor shakers during the past two months hit the Port Hueneme area Wednesday morning.

A 3.2-magnitude quake was recorded at 10:10 a.m., centered one mile northeast of Port Hueneme, according to Caltech seismic analyst Nick Scheckel. On Monday, residents felt a quake measuring 2.7 in magnitude.

With Wednesday’s quake, Port Hueneme residents reported items being knocked from counters and shelves, but there were no reports of serious damage, Police Sgt. Ron Burns said. One downed power line may have been caused by the quake, he added.

The series of minor quakes since Nov. 29 indicates that a long-dormant fault beneath the Oxnard-Port Hueneme area may be active, geologists say. Five shakers ranging in magnitude from 2.3 to Wednesday’s 3.2 have been recorded, but only the last three have been felt.

In addition, a swarm of at least a dozen small quakes--2.3 to 2.9 in magnitude--was recorded beneath the ocean in an area 13 miles northwest of Santa Cruz Island early Wednesday.