( CNN ) -- A magnitude-4.4 earthquake rattled residents of southern California early Tuesday morning , according to the U.S. Geological Survey . There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries , authorities said . However , police and fire officials said they had received calls from residents awakened by the quake . Its epicenter was 11 miles east-southeast of the Los Angeles Civic Center , the USGS reported . It struck at 4:04 a.m. `` First it was a small one and then a big one , '' said Chris Curiel , who was working at the Vallejo Mini Market in Whittier , a town near the epicenter . `` It felt like the floor was sinking . '' He said merchandise on the shelves began shaking , but there was no damage . Because his market is a gas station , earthquakes are a bit more worrisome , he said . Curiel said he knew immediately an earthquake was happening , and he has felt one before . Ravi Singh , night shift supervisor at a 7-Eleven in Pico Rivera -- the town a mile east-northeast of the epicenter -- told CNN he was making coffee when the store 's windows started rattling . There was no damage , he said . `` Everything is fine . '' iReporter says `` it sounded like there were kids dancing upstairs '' Although the temblor was centered 11 miles below the Earth 's surface , according to USGS , the movement was enough to awaken some southern Californians . `` It felt like two quick jolts , '' said CNN 's Rosalina Nieves . `` I felt some shaking , and I was n't sure if it was just my upstairs neighbor ... but then you definitely felt two quick jolts . '' She said the movement lasted for a couple of seconds . While earthquakes are common in southern California , Nieves , a native of Los Angeles , said recent earthquakes in Chile and Haiti have caused concern . `` The first thing that jumps into your mind is , 'Is this the big one ? ' '' she said . CNN 's Maria White contributed to this report .
Magnitude 4.4 earthquake occurred at 6 a.m. Epicenter is 11 miles east - southeast of Los Angeles Civic Center . Quake was centered 11 miles below the Earth 's surface , USGS data .