Videos from Universal Studios tour go viral amid flooding in LA caused by Tropical Storm Hilary

Los Angeles was hit by the odd combination of a hurricane (which later became Tropical Storm Hilary) and an earthquake at the same time this weekend, but the city is used to such natural disasters – at least as a theme park attraction. Over the weekend, social media users took advantage of the parallel.

On Sunday, several Twitter/X users caused a stir by posting clips from Universal Studios Hollywood's tram tour – which simulates earthquakes and floods – and jokingly pretending they were real footage of Tropical Storm Hilary.

Denis Cameron/Shutterstock The Universal Studios Earthquake Ride tour in action.

“The LA Metro station at Wilshire/Vermont is flooded by the storm,” posted by user @DealinRugs alongside a video of a flooded train station. However, a community note attached to Twitter/X's post put paid to the joke by clarifying that the footage was actually from the Universal ride, just in case anyone was fooled.

As if this community note wasn't clear enough, the difference was also explained in a humorous way on the official LA Metro account.

“This is an attraction at Universal Studios. Sure,” Account posted.

Locals were quick to respond, posting replies pointing to other features of the tram tour, which runs through the studio’s famous outdoor area and features real film sets and props (the station was used in a scene from Beverly Hills Cop 3).

One person posted a shot of the part of the ride where a flash flood rages through a Mexican village (an area used for shooting Big fat liar And Fletch lives) and wrote: “Wow, look at the floods in Mexico, it's crazy.”

Another included video from an old Jim Henson Hour Special broadcast entitled “Miss Piggy's Hollywood” with a clip of the popular Muppet character, who is on the tram and meets Bruce the shark from The White shark“You shouldn't be fishing in Los Angeles County today. We just got this footage,” said the User jokingly warned.

Below is a recent image of the flooding caused by Hilary. The differences should be clear.

FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty A flooded intersection in California caused by Tropical Storm Hilary.

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