'We need to get under the desk': TV news anchors panic on-air during earthquake
News anchors broadcasting during a 7.1-magnitude earthquake in California were shown bracing for the worst while live on-air.
Juan Fernandez and Sara Donchey were presenting for CBS LA on Friday night when a second round of violent tremors struck Southern California.
“We are experiencing quite a bit of shaking if you bear with us a moment,” Donchey said.
“We’re making sure nothing is going to come down in the studio here.”
Appearing visibly distressed, Donchey clasped her co-anchor around the arm.
“This is a very strong earthquake,” she said.
“8.21(pm) here and we’re experiencing very strong shaking. I think we need to get under the desk Juan.”
Donchey crouched to her knees to climb under the desk and Fernandez clasped the bottom of the desk before the network abruptly went to a commercial break.
The earthquake triggered reports of damage in communities in the northwest area of San Bernardino County, near where the temblor hit, the county’s fire department said on Twitter.
"Homes shifted, foundation cracks, retaining walls down," the department said on Twitter.
"One injury (minor) with firefighters treating patient."
The US Geological Survey says the quake hit at 8.19 pm (local time) on Friday and was centred 17 kilometres from Ridgecrest, where a 6.4- magnitude quake struck on Thursday.
The quake was felt downtown as a rolling motion that seemed to last at least a half-minute.
It was felt as far away as Las Vegas and the USGS says it also was felt in Mexico.
If the preliminary magnitude is correct, it would be the largest Southern California quake in 20 years.
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