A powerful earthquake struck near Los Angeles, California on Monday afternoon, shaking homes and startling residents for miles.

The 4.4 magnitude quake's epicentre hit near Highland Park, a neighbourhood in Los Angeles County not far from the famous Hollywood sign and the Griffith Observatory, at around 12:20 PST (20:20 BST), according to the US Geological Survey.

It was felt in nearby cities Pasadena and Glendale, and all the way to the coastline in areas like Manhattan Beach and El Segundo.

There was no tsunami warning from the quake, the USGS said.

Officials across the state are monitoring for damage or injuries but so far, none had been reported.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said crews from the city's 106 fire stations were doing a complete survey of the Greater Los Angeles area for structural damage or other issues.

The earthquake was first estimated as a 4.7 magnitude, but was later downgraded to a 4.4 magnitude by the US Geological Survey.

The area has seen several magnitude 4 and 5 earthquakes in recent weeks, including in Grapevine and Bakersfield, California last week.