Strong Earthquake Rattles Southland amidst Tropical Storm

In the midst of grappling with a severe tropical storm, Southern California was jolted by a powerful earthquake centered in Ventura County on Sunday.

The earthquake, initially reported as a magnitude 5.0 but later upgraded to 5.1, struck at 2:41 p.m. roughly 4 miles southeast of Ojai, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was followed by a series of aftershocks, with the largest measuring a magnitude of 3.8.

Though there have been no immediate reports of injuries or damage caused by the quake, its impact was widely felt across the region, with shaking extending from Los Angeles County’s South Bay to Riverside County. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, formerly known as X, assured the public via Twitter that there have been “no immediate reports of damage at this time,” but cautioned that additional aftershocks are likely.

Lucy Jones, an earthquake expert in the area, highlighted that the earthquake appeared to be preceded by a series of foreshocks that began on Saturday morning. Jones also mentioned that the region can expect to experience more aftershocks, with a 5% chance of one being stronger than the initial 5.1-magnitude quake.

“The earthquake and the tropical storm are not related,” Jones clarified. “It is merely a coincidence that serves as a reminder that disaster resilience encompasses multiple hazards.”

Interestingly, this earthquake occurred on a day when Southern California was already contending with heavy rain brought by the remnants of Hurricane Hilary, which had weakened into a tropical storm upon making landfall—a situation that had already heightened the preparedness of first-responders.

The National Weather Service confirmed that there was no risk of a tsunami resulting from the earthquake.