When Everyone Thought The World Was Ending

This vintage news broadcast from early May 1988 captures the surreal atmosphere as Los Angeles residents grappled with mounting fear that Nostradamus may have predicted a catastrophic earthquake—“The Big One”—to strike that very week. Anchors report on a wave of public anxiety fueled by the 16th-century astrologer's cryptic quatrains, with interviews showing concerned citizens stocking up on supplies and some even fleeing the city. The segment blends period graphics, tense weather reports, and a haunting look at how ancient prophecy stirred modern panic.

WATCH:

37-year-old news broadcast from early May 1988, when there was a growing panic that French astrologer Nostradamus might have predicted that "The Big One" would finally hit that week and decimate Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/GkCG3koxR1

— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) July 1, 2025