A magnitude 3.9 earthquake struck Hollywood as some of the world’s biggest stars were celebrating following the Oscars.
The epicenter of the earthquake was measured in North Hollywood, just a few miles from the Dolby Theatre, which hosted the awards ceremony.
There were no early reports of damage or injury. The earthquake struck shortly after 22:00 local time, as celebrities gathered for the famed Vanity Fair afterparty.
People in the neighborhood observed a rapid burst of energy, with some screaming and high-rise structures swaying like jelly.
The US Geological Survey (USGS), which monitors such events, reported that the earthquake was felt miles away in Los Angeles.
The comparatively modest earthquake did not trigger a tsunami alert.
The Los Angeles Fire Department stated that the earthquake was felt throughout downtown Los Angeles, although the organization did not go into “Earthquake Mode” as a result of the incident.
For bigger earthquakes, first responders and officials inspect the area to ensure that buildings and infrastructure are not structurally damaged.
The quake is one of approximately 40 that have struck Southern California since the beginning of March, with virtually all of them being magnitude 1 earthquakes that are rarely felt by locals, according to USGS statistics reviewed by the BBC.
Last month, a magnitude 3.7 earthquake hit the adjacent Malibu area. In December, a large magnitude 7 earthquake rattled northern California and issued a brief tsunami alert for individuals in northern California and southern Oregon.
BBC correspondents covering the Academy Awards in the heart of Hollywood described intense shaking and even some screams as the unexpected jolt terrified guests. Some people thought the rumble was the sound of a bomb going off.
One resident described it as the largest earthquake she had ever felt and was startled to learn that it was only 3.9 magnitude. “I felt that in my bones,” she said.
The BBC’s Emma Vardy reported that she was fixing her cosmetics for some final Oscars filming when the earthquake happened. Her rhinestone chandelier earrings wobbled in the mirror, and she saw the high-rise she was in was shaky.
“I have felt a lot of quakes over the past two years in Los Angeles, but currently, I am on the 15th floor of our media center in Hollywood,” she remarked. “Feeling a building of that size move around like jelly is quite an experience.”
