As Hurricane Hilary bore down on Southern California, residents felt the ground shake beneath them with a 5.1 magnitude earthquake. The earthquake’s origin was to the northwest of Los Angeles.
Amidst the chaos, the term “#hurriquake” began trending online. Fortunately, both the quake and the storm, which later degraded to a post-tropical cyclone, caused minimal damage.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated that more than 100 fire stations were active, assessing potential damage to buildings. She later tweeted reassuringly, noting no significant structural damage or injuries.
Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones informed NBC News about the uniqueness of this earthquake’s location near Ojai, noting it was the first of its kind since 1932 within the Ventura basin. She advised residents to brace for potential aftershocks in the coming days.
The concurrent timing of the earthquake and post-tropical cyclone Hilary created a moment of panic among residents.
BBC News correspondent Regan Morris recounted her experience during the quake, highlighting the alarm of her neighbor and the evident panic in her surroundings. Footage from a local supermarket captured the tense moments, with products tumbling off shelves and patrons hurrying for safety.
