Earthquakes with magnitudes under M 5.0 can sometimes be quite damaging as was the case on October 21, 1941, when a M 4.9 shock caused light to moderate damage (MMI VII) in Compton and Gardena.

Lesser damage occurred in Hollywood, Long Beach, Venice, and Los Angeles. This shock was topped some three weeks later by the Torrance-Gardena M 5.4 earthquake which caused $1.1 million in damage primarily to those two cities.

Some 50 structures received significant damage and the quake was felt from Maricopa to San Diego. Both events triggered along the infamous Newport-Inglewood fault zone.

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