LOS ANGELES — A catastrophic 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Southern California at 2:14 AM PST this morning, sending shockwaves through the Los Angeles coastline and triggering an immediate tsunami warning for the entire Pacific Coast. The US Geological Survey confirmed the epicenter was just 12 miles off the Long Beach shore, with tremors felt as far as San Diego and Sacramento. Emergency services report widespread structural collapse in downtown Los Angeles, with the historic Federal Building reduced to rubble and the Los Angeles Convention Center completely destroyed.
As the shaking subsided, rescue crews reported over 1,200 people missing in the hardest-hit areas of Long Beach and Compton. Mayor Karen Bass activated the state of emergency declaration as helicopters dropped supplies to stranded residents and firefighters battled raging fires ignited by ruptured gas lines. Multiple hospitals reported critical overcrowding, with trauma centers receiving patients with severe crush injuries and severed limbs.
The tsunami warning, which remains in effect as of 9:15 AM PST, has caused mandatory evacuations for 200,000 coastal residents. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed a 15-foot wave hit Seal Beach at 4:03 AM, inundating downtown areas and causing additional structural damage. RealTime Wire's live-streaming cameras show emergency responders using drones to map flooded streets and locate trapped residents.
This is the strongest earthquake to hit Southern California since the 1971 San Fernando Valley quake. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported over 425 fatalities as of 9:15 AM PST, with over 8,000 injuries across the region. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates total damage will exceed $30 billion. Our live community chat is filled with survivors sharing harrowing accounts: 'I was in my bathtub when the walls started to crumble,' shared one user, while another reported being rescued from the second floor of a collapsed building after 30 minutes in the dark.
In a coordinated effort, the National Guard and military helicopters are en route from Hawaii to assist with search and rescue. President Biden declared a federal emergency as of 9:00 AM PST, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency is activating its full disaster response capabilities. The timeline below shows ongoing live updates from our field teams in Los Angeles. We're providing 24/7 coverage with user-generated content from affected areas, as residents share their experiences through real-time text and video streams.
BREAKING: Power outages now exceed 1.5 million households across Los Angeles County. Major airports in LA and San Diego have been suspended, with international flights diverted to Phoenix and San Francisco. The Port of Los Angeles is reporting significant infrastructure damage, with the $2.5 billion cargo terminal partially collapsed.
For the latest real-time updates, join our live community chat below and submit your photos or videos to #RTW_Earthquake. This is a developing story – stay tuned to RealTime Wire for exclusive, live coverage as we follow this breaking crisis.}
As the shaking subsided, rescue crews reported over 1,200 people missing in the hardest-hit areas of Long Beach and Compton. Mayor Karen Bass activated the state of emergency declaration as helicopters dropped supplies to stranded residents and firefighters battled raging fires ignited by ruptured gas lines. Multiple hospitals reported critical overcrowding, with trauma centers receiving patients with severe crush injuries and severed limbs.
The tsunami warning, which remains in effect as of 9:15 AM PST, has caused mandatory evacuations for 200,000 coastal residents. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed a 15-foot wave hit Seal Beach at 4:03 AM, inundating downtown areas and causing additional structural damage. RealTime Wire's live-streaming cameras show emergency responders using drones to map flooded streets and locate trapped residents.
This is the strongest earthquake to hit Southern California since the 1971 San Fernando Valley quake. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported over 425 fatalities as of 9:15 AM PST, with over 8,000 injuries across the region. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates total damage will exceed $30 billion. Our live community chat is filled with survivors sharing harrowing accounts: 'I was in my bathtub when the walls started to crumble,' shared one user, while another reported being rescued from the second floor of a collapsed building after 30 minutes in the dark.
In a coordinated effort, the National Guard and military helicopters are en route from Hawaii to assist with search and rescue. President Biden declared a federal emergency as of 9:00 AM PST, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency is activating its full disaster response capabilities. The timeline below shows ongoing live updates from our field teams in Los Angeles. We're providing 24/7 coverage with user-generated content from affected areas, as residents share their experiences through real-time text and video streams.
BREAKING: Power outages now exceed 1.5 million households across Los Angeles County. Major airports in LA and San Diego have been suspended, with international flights diverted to Phoenix and San Francisco. The Port of Los Angeles is reporting significant infrastructure damage, with the $2.5 billion cargo terminal partially collapsed.
For the latest real-time updates, join our live community chat below and submit your photos or videos to #RTW_Earthquake. This is a developing story – stay tuned to RealTime Wire for exclusive, live coverage as we follow this breaking crisis.}
