5.1-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Ojai as Southern California Experiences Hurricane Hilary Tropical Storm
Aftershocks with a magnitude of approximately 3.0 and above continue to follow
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An earthquake struck southern California on Sunday as the region faces a tropical storm due to Hurricane Hilary.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter of the 5.1-magnitude earthquake was located four miles southeast of the city of Ojai, about 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
The quake struck at 2:41 p.m and is reported to be 14.6 km deep. Several aftershocks with a magnitude of approximately 3.0 and above followed. No areas are expected to be damaged by landslide and liquefaction, according to USGS.
The national Emergency Notification System (ENS) issued alerts about the earthquake, which had a preliminary magnitude was 5.0.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote on Twitter (now known as X): “Following the 5.1 earthquake near Ojai this afternoon, our @LAFD is now in Earthquake Operation mode.”
“All 106 neighborhood fire stations will conduct a strategic survey,” she continued. “There are currently no significant initial reports of structural damage or injuries.”
The Los Angeles Fire Department said in a statement: “This survey will be conducted from the ground, air and sea. Once this process is complete and reports are consolidated, assuming there is no significant damage, Earthquake mode will be complete. This process typically takes less than one hour.”
The National Weather Service Los Angeles tweeted, “There is NO Tsunami threat for southern California. Again, a Tsunami is NOT expected.” ENS also confirmed in a tweet that “no tsunami warnings are in effect.”
However, the National Hurricane Center’s latest public advisory forecasts that “a couple tornadoes are possible” through Sunday evening.
The earthquake struck while southern California faces its first tropical storm since 1939. Hurricane Hilary traveled north towards the region from Baja California Peninsula.
The National Hurricane Center advised residents to prepare for “dangerous to catastrophic flooding,” with some areas expected to experience “localized significant flash flooding.” It also predicated coastal flooding along the northern coast of the Gulf of California.
