The July 4 holiday was not a peaceful one, at least on the west coast. While those on the east were mostly chilling, or mocking the president for claiming there were airports during the Revolutionary War, those on the other side of the country were hit by not one but two significant earthquakes, and in as many days.
https://twitter.com/shanedawson/status/1147346214360236035
On Thursday, aka Independence Day, the state was rocked by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake, which was centered around Ridgecrest and could be felt all around southern California. A mere day later, another one hit, also around Ridgecrest and this one bigger, clocking in at 7.1 on the Richter scale.
Ridgecrest was affected the most, the quakes causing gas leaks, fires, and water main breaks. Around 130 residents wound up in shelters, as per CNN. Some towns, including Trona, have lost power and water. Several injuries have been reported, but no deaths have been noted. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency.
The second earthquake falls short of the bigger ones, including the one in 1857 that ranked 7.9 and caused a 220-mile scar. Still, the second one, like the first, was well-documented on social media.
https://twitter.com/bh4u1988/status/1147466600259489792
Terrifying video shows a powerful 7.1 earthquake shaking a family's backyard in Southern California — just one day after a magnitude 6.4 hit the same general area. https://t.co/fo673tMF3k pic.twitter.com/XXvkE4fUGQ
— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) July 6, 2019
#BREAKING: More than 1,000 aftershocks recorded after California earthquake – CBS News
pic.twitter.com/UHGsk58Cxt— I.E.N. (@BreakingIEN) July 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/ZedLep67/status/1147493690652471297
Last night’s earthquake fulfilling our swimming pool’s ‘ocean fantasy’! pic.twitter.com/tnjsoGoDpK
— Roland (@RolandBrown918) July 6, 2019
Yesterday I experienced my first earthquake while I was in Walmart. #EarthquakeLA #prayforlosangeles pic.twitter.com/G0R1eYZfuf
— Stay 🐥🐺 (@Canlas8790) July 6, 2019
News anchors react to California earthquake live on air. pic.twitter.com/SVFvq0MISY
— VOA DEEWA (@voadeewa) July 6, 2019
It even affected the Dodgers/Padres game, sort of.
https://twitter.com/Atlantide4world/status/1147496682717884416
There were, of course, also jokes, because things could have been worse.
earthquake more like girthquake! that thing was thick!
— codyko (@codyko) July 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/Goon_Squaddddd/status/1147485076898402304
https://twitter.com/Goon_Squaddddd/status/1147484492979953669
(Via CNN)