5.1 magnitude earthquake hits Southern California as Tropical Storm Hilary moves into area | KUTV
An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 struck Ventura County, Southern California, causing widespread shaking. This event occurred on the same day that the region experienced its first tropical storm in decades. The earthquake, centered about four miles southeast of Ojai, surprised residents already bracing for the remnants of Hurricane Hilary, which had brought substantial rain during an unusually dry month. Several aftershocks, with magnitudes of 3.0 or greater, followed the initial quake.
Notable areas affected by the shaking included Ventura, Camarillo, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, and Santa Barbara, among others. Despite the impact, no significant damage was immediately reported. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department conducted aerial surveys of various locations, including dams and the city of Ojai, revealing no damage.
The earthquake’s location was noteworthy due to its rarity, as it was the first magnitude-5 event in that specific area since 1932. Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones highlighted the unusual nature of this occurrence. The quake coincided with a rare tropical storm hitting the Los Angeles area, prompting emergency alerts. This marked the first tropical storm warning for Southern California in decades, with the majority of Los Angeles County under a flash flood warning due to expected rainfall. The event stirred significant attention on social media with the hashtag #hurriquake trending
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