2:50PM EST: (UPDATES BELOW) A strong earthquake has just struck Southern Los Angeles, YWN has learned. According to initial reports the quake measured 5.8, and was felt from San Diego to Los Angeles. YWN spoke with Los Angeles Hatzolah who says that as of now there are Boruch Hashem no reports of injuries or damage in the Frum communities of Los Angeles.

Hatzolah of Los Angeles has activated their secondary emergency communications systems, all members have been placed on high alert, and units are standing by at the Hatzolah Command Post.

The reason for going on high alert is due to the fact that there are usually strong after-shocks, or this can be a per-cursor to a bigger quake about to strike.

Preliminary information from the U.S. Geological Survey estimated the quake at magnitude 5.8, centered 29 miles east-southeast of downtown Los Angeles near Chino Hills in San Bernardino County. The quake struck at 11:42 a.m. PDT. Buildings swayed in downtown Los Angeles for several seconds.

UPDATE 3:20PM EST: The Associated Press reports that a total of ten aftershocks have occurred so far – including three estimated at 3.8.

YWN will post additional info as soon as it becomes available to us.

(Moshe Altusky – YWN Los Angeles Ops’ Desk / Yehuda Drudgestein – YWN NYC)