But he adds that there have been more erroneous predictions than successful ones, with one analysis of 548 strong earthquakes occurring between 2007 and 2010 finding just 20 “acceptable ...

It's 19% for a magnitude 4 or higher, 2% for a magnitude 5 and above, and less than 1% for a magnitude 6 or 7 earthquake. The Malibu area quake struck around 7:28 a.m. at a depth of nearly six miles.