Earthquake shakes Los Angeles

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A magnitude 5.1 earthquake has shaken Los Angeles and surrounding counties, authorities have said.

The US Geological Survey said the quake struck at 9.09pm on Friday night near Brea in Orange County - about 32km southeast of downtown Los Angeles. It was felt as far south as San Diego and as far north as Ventura County, according to citizen responses collected online by the USGS.

There were no immediate reports of significant damage or injuries. However, broken glass, gas leaks, a water main break and a rockslide were reported near the epicentre, according to Twitter updates from local authorities.

At least five aftershocks ranging from magnitudes 2.7 to 3.6 were recorded, according to the USGS. Earlier in the afternoon, a magnitude-3.6 quake hit nearby in the city of La Habra.

A 4.4-magnitude quake was felt near Los Angeles earlier this month, rattling nerves but causing no major damage.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said it was checking buildings and transport infrastructure for damage.

It said the quake was a reminder for people to be prepared.

The San Andreas fault, on the edge of the Pacific tectonic plate, runs directly through California, and the western US state has long braced for a devastating quake.

The 1994 Northridge quake, at 6.7 magnitude, left at least 60 people dead. A 6.9-magnitude quake in San Francisco five years earlier killed 67 people.