Did a 5.1 magnitude earthquake in California wreak major damage? Here's what we know

An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 shook the city of Ojai in California on August 20, 2023, followed by a hurricane. However, so far no damage has been reported

Outlook International Desk

Updated on: 26 August 2023 5:22 pm

Earthquake and Tropical Hilary Strom in California (Representational Image)

A magnitude of 5.1 earthquake shook the city of Ojai in California. Followed by the earthquake, the city of Ojai also witnessed a Tropical Storm named Hilary. The phenomena of two natural disasters, including an earthquake and hurricane, were named 'Hurriquake'. However, as per a dispatcher with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, no early reports of severe injuries or damage have been reported.

While the epicentre of the earthquake was northwest of Los Angeles, the Tropical Storm Hilary made its landfall in the southwestern United States from Mexico. After which rain lashed several parts of California.Neither the earthquake nor the hurricane caused major damage. According to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, more than 100 fire stations were on duty to check the building for damage.

The mayor also added that there is no initial report of structural damage caused by the earthquake or any injuries. After the massive 5.1 earthquake, two aftershocks were also observed, measuring a magnitude of 3.1 and 3.6. The quake hit while post-tropical cyclone Hilary was still battering the region, causing confusion and panic among residents.

Compared to the previous earthquakes experienced by the region, the Ojai earthquake has been relatively mild. The recent earthquake was much smaller than the 1994 Northridge earthquake, which was a 6.7-magnitude quake and released 125 times more energy.

Meanwhile, according to the National Hurricane Service, due to the incessant rainfall, there is a risk of a flood-like situation arising. Also, potential mudslides and landslides may also be experienced by people.

Also, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in much of the typically dry area, where flash flood warnings were in effect until the morning of August 21, 2023. Meanwhile, as per the details shared by the National Weather Service, several records for daily rainfall amounts were broken in Los Angeles, including Palmdale Airport (2.95 inches), Hollywood Burbank Airport (1.61 inches), and Long Beach Airport (1.56 inches).