Earthquake is recorded in the US state of California amid tropical storm Hilary
The Governor of California has declared a state of emergency due to the imminent arrival of an unprecedented storm in the state. In addition, another natural disaster recently occurred in the region, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake.
Usually arid desert areas such as Palm Springs have been flooded by heavy rains - Photo Reproduction/Reuters
While the Southern Californians shelter from the impact of Hurricane Hilary, the region was hit by another natural phenomenon. A magnitude 5.1 tremor shook the US state, coinciding with Hilary's passing. Fortunately, this earthquake caused no damage, and Hurricane Hilary also lost its strength, evolving into a post-tropical cyclone.
Earthquake
According to a statement issued by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a strong earthquake shook the state of California, with the epicenter located in Ventura County, northwest of the city of Los Angeles. This earthquake spanned over 120 miles, causing at least a dozen more aftershocks, averaging a magnitude of 3.0. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass reported that more than 100 fire stations are assessing damage to buildings. In a tweet, Bass said that, so far, there is no information on damage caused by the earthquakes and no reports of injuries.
Hurricane
Before the arrival of hurricane Hilary and earthquake, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in most of Southern California, with more than 7,500 troops deployed to help people prepare for the storm. The Democratic politician posted on his social media the message: "Stay safe, California". Dean Criswell, director of the Federal Administration Agency (Fema), in an interview with CNN, warned of the threat that Hurricane Hilary poses to Southern California. She urged everyone to treat natural events with due seriousness and to follow the guidance of local authorities.
The National Hurricane Service warns that the storm is generating a "continuous and historic" amount of rain, which can result in life-threatening catastrophic flooding, as well as landslides. The storm has already brought heavy rain to areas that are normally characterized by their desert aridity. Experts warned that these areas could be particularly affected by flash floods, due to the soil's difficulty in absorbing water.
This phenomenon was evidenced in locations like Palm Springs, which is notoriously a desert town. The city recorded the highest volume of rain ever, according to the governor. Parts of Death Valley, famous for having some of the hottest temperatures on Earth, were also flooded by heavy rainfall. Residents of San Bernardino County were evacuated due to the heavy rains, while the National Weather Service issued warnings of the risk of life-threatening flooding in Ventura County after about two inches (five centimeters) of rain was recorded in just two hours.
Videos shared on social media by San Bernardino County showed rainwater washing away rocks on the roads as trucks plowed through the mud.
