Quake renders homes unsafe

LOS ANGELES — A moderate earthquake that rattled a swath of southern California forced dozens of people out of their homes after firefighters discovered foundation problems that made the buildings unsafe, authorities said Saturday.

Fire crews red-tagged 20 apartment units in a building in the Orange County city of Fullerton after finding a major crack. Structural woes including broken chimneys and leaning were uncovered in half a dozen single-family houses, which were also deemed as unsafe to occupy until building inspectors clear the structures. The damage displaced 83 residents.

Friday night’s magnitude5.1 quake was centred about 40 kilometres south of downtown Los Angeles. It was preceded by two smaller foreshocks, and more than 100 aftershocks followed, including a magnitude-4.1 that hit Saturday afternoon. No injuries were reported.

Residents were inconvenienced and some lost valuables, but “thankfully the damage wasn’t greater,” said Chi-chung Keung, a spokesman for the city of Fullerton.

Business owners in Orange County spent the aftermath sweeping up shattered glass and restocking shelves. Utility crews worked to restore power and shut off gas leaks and water main breaks. A rock slide in the Carbon Canyon area of nearby Brea caused a car to overturn. The occupants suffered minor injuries and the road was closed.

The Red Cross opened a shelter in neighbouring La Habra and closed it once 38 people who stayed overnight returned home. “Everything is starting to get settled down,” La Habra police Sgt. Mel Ruiz said.