An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.1 jolted parts of Southern California Sunday afternoon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, as residents in the region braced for Tropical Storm Hilary.
The earthquake was centered about four miles southeast of Ojai, California, about 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles. It struck shortly after 2:40 p.m. local time at a depth of approximately 9 miles, the USGS said.
Following the earthquake, several aftershocks with magnitudes up to nearly 4 were recorded in the area, according to the USGS. The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center said no tsunamis were expected.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services said assessments were underway. No substantial issues, such as injuries and major damages, were immediately reported.
“We are currently surveying all cities and counties,” said Ventura County Fire Department Deputy Chief Chad Cook.
During a live broadcast about the earthquake, seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones said it was the first time a magnitude 5.0 quake had registered in the area since 1941.
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Frances Fitting, who works at a local department store, described the quake as “very sharp” and said the area continued to have aftershocks. “We still have power and most of the things are still intact,” she added.
Several parts of the Los Angeles area also felt the violent shake as Southern Californians shared their shock on social media.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that all 106 neighborhood fire stations in the city were conducting a strategic survey. “There are currently no significant initial reports of structural damage or injuries,” Bass added.
The earthquake occurred at the same time a historic tropical storm hit Southern California. Although Hilary has been downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm, officials are warning of the risk of catastrophic and life-threatening flooding for much of the southwestern United States.
Contributing: Ventura County Star; The Associated Press