A 5.1-magnitude earthquake Friday night caused minor damages and injuries to residents living near Los Angeles.

The epicenter of the quake occurred a little after 9 p.m., one mile from Brea in Orange County and at a depth of five miles.

According to the Christian Science Monitor, U.S Geologist Survey seismologist Lucy Jones reported:

“Preliminary data suggest Friday night’s 5.1 magnitude earthquake occurred near the Puente Hills thrust fault, which stretches from the San Gabriel Valley to downtown Los Angeles and caused the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake.”

The quake was said to occur 21 miles east southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The effects were also widely felt in counties including Orange, Riverside, Ventura, and San Bernardino.

It resulted in more than 12 aftershocks in Southern California at magnitudes ranging from 2.1 to 3.6.

Authorities reported city damages involving gas leaks, water pipe breaks, the collapsing of a brick wall, and a rock slide.

The rock slide, which occurred near Carbon Canyon, flipped a vehicle on its head. The commuters sustained minor injuries.

Power lines were apparently affected by the quake because nearly 2,000 residents lost power.

The Brea police department and public safety officials scoped out the area throughout tonight for other possible damages to local infrastructures.

“Previously, the M5.4 2008 Chino Hills earthquake occurred in this region,” the USGS reported Saturday. “It caused somewhat stronger shaking in Orange County and across the Los Angeles Basin.”

Friday’s quake marks the second event in ten days since the 4.1-magnitude in San Fernando.

Some believe that the past two quakes are just precursors to a bigger one to come.

However, a CalTech seismologist told USA Today that it’s a “one in 20” possibility that a larger earthquake awaits Southern California. Since neither events were located on the San Andreas fault-where most of the larger quakes occur-it shouldn’t raise much concern.

Most seismologists apparently do not view these consecutive earthquakes as uncommon. After all, “Alaska and the big island of Hawaii see more than California.”

No deaths were reported in either quake.

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