On New Year's Day, California experienced a 4.1 magnitude earthquake while Japan had a 7.6 magnitude quake. Both quakes were unrelated and caused no significant damage or injuries. The California quake was located 12 miles off the coast near Rancho Palos Verdes and affected various areas across the county. Seismologist Lucy Jones downplayed concerns about potential tsunamis from the California quake and noted that Japan's quake was significantly larger. This event is part of a series of recent seismic activities in the area.