QuakeIndex

Fault · California

Malibu Coast fault

64 kmlong (40 mi), as mapped
0.2–1 mm/yrhow fast it slips
< 15,000 yearssince it last broke the surface
68quakes of M2.5+ within 10 km since 2016

In plain English

The two sides move 0.2 to 1 mm a year — 2 to 10 cm every century.

Its most recent surface rupture is younger than 15,000 years.

The largest earthquake recorded near it was M 6.0 in 1827 (Channel Islands region, California) — about 32,000 times the energy of an M3.0, the size people start to feel. It released about 15 kilotons of TNT.

This week vs. its last ten years

0/100

quiet

0 quakes of M1.5+ within 5 km of the trace in the last 7 days — busier than 0% of weeks since 2016. A normal week: 0–1.

Computed from the USGS catalogue · a description of the past, not a forecast · method

San Andreas faultNewport-Inglewood-Rose Canyon faultSan Clemente faultSanta Ynez faultSan Gabriel faultSierra Madre faultSan Diego Trough faultPitas Point faultCatalina faultPalos Verdes faultOak Ridge fault (offshore)Mission Ridge fault systemSan Pedro Basin faultSanta Cruz Island faultSanta Cruz faultDume faultOak Ridge faultSimi-Santa Rosa faultPuente Hills blind thrust systemSan Cayetano faultMid-Channel faultRed Mountain faultSanta Monica faultNorthridge blind thrustRaymond faultVerdugo faultHollywood faultVentura faultIsla Vista fault M 6.0 · 1827 · Channel Islands region, California
The Malibu Coast fault as mapped at the surface (glowing), with the other mapped faults nearby, 68 of the M2.5+ earthquakes within 10 km of it since 2016 (dots), and the epicentres of the large historic earthquakes recorded near it (rings). Traces: USGS Quaternary Fault and Fold Database. Historic epicentres are estimates.

Every year since 2016

Earthquakes of M2.5+ with an epicentre within 10 km of the mapped trace. Near is not the same as on: some will have slipped on neighbouring faults.

The big ones recorded near it

  1. M 6.0 Channel Islands region, California
    September 24, 1827 · epicentre 6 km from the trace
  2. M 4.7 6 km N of Malibu, CA
    September 12, 2024 · epicentre 2 km from the trace
  3. M 4.6 11 km WNW of Malibu, CA
    February 9, 2024 · epicentre 2 km from the trace
  4. M 4.1 10 km NW of Malibu, CA
    March 9, 2025 · epicentre 3 km from the trace
  5. M 4.0 26km S of Port Hueneme, CA
    January 2, 2020 · epicentre 8 km from the trace

Before 1973 from the USGS ComCat historical catalogue (within 25 km; epicentres of old earthquakes are estimates). Since 2016, M4+ within 10 km.

Most recent near it

  1. M 2.9 8 km S of Malibu Beach, CA
    2026-05-26 · 8 km from the trace
  2. M 3.0 18 km SE of Port Hueneme, CA
    2026-02-19 · 3 km from the trace
  3. M 2.8 6 km W of Malibu, CA
    2026-02-17 · 4 km from the trace
  4. M 2.8 10 km WSW of Malibu, CA
    2025-12-24 · 7 km from the trace
  5. M 3.0 4 km S of Malibu Beach, CA
    2025-05-07 · 4 km from the trace
  6. M 3.9 10 km NW of Malibu, CA
    2025-03-17 · 2 km from the trace

Neighbouring faults

Fault trace, slip rate and age: USGS Quaternary Fault and Fold Database (public domain), simplified for the web. Earthquakes: USGS ComCat. QuakeIndex does not forecast earthquakes; a fault's history describes the past. For early warning use ShakeAlert.