Sign up for Shake Alert Earthquake Early Warning System on your phone.
LOS ANGELES (CNS) – An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.2 struck in the Julian area of San Diego County Monday, with the shaking felt through a large swath of Southern California, even as far north as West Los Angeles.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake struck at 10:08 a.m. about 2.5 miles south of Julian near the Pine Hills area. A ShakeAlert notice was sent to cell phones throughout much of Southern California, initially putting the magnitude of the quake at 6.0, but the USGS later downgraded it to 5.1, then revised it again to 5.2.
The shaker was felt as far away as Orange County, West Los Angeles and Riverside County. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The Cal State Fullerton Police Department reported light shaking in that city, and its personnel were conducting safety checks on the campus as a precaution.
The Los Angeles Fire Department activated its “earthquake mode” following the shaker, sending out crews to conduct precautionary inspections of the city in search of possible damage, but no such damage was spotted.
The Orange County Fire Authority stated that no damage had been reported within its jurisdictional boundaries.
A series of aftershocks quickly hit in the same general area, most less than 3.0 magnitude, but one registered magnitude 3.5 near Borrego Springs, while a 3.9 shock struck just before 11:30 a.m.
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services said the agency was working with local agencies to assess any possible damage or impacts from the quake. The governor’s office issued a statement saying Gov. Gavin Newsom had been briefed on the quake.
“The state is coordinating with local authorities to assess any damage and if emergency response is needed,” according to the governor’s office.
Seismologist and Southern California earthquake expert Lucy Jones said the quake appeared to have been felt “over a very large area,” stretching into Los Angeles. She said given the size and depth of the quake, it was unlikely to cause any series damage “to a normal California building,” although it may have knocked some items off shelves.
“There shouldn’t be structural damage,” she said. “If there is, it’s in a pretty bad building.”
Following the quake, Metrolink canceled service on Orange County Line train 608 between San Clemente and Oceanside, allowing crews to conduct precautionary track inspections and determine if any damage occurred.
One resident in the Vista area in San Diego County noted online that the quake “sounded and felt like a bomb went off.”
Bessie Eberhardt of Fallbrook told City News Service the temblor was one of the stronger quakes she has felt in her decades of living in Orange and San Diego counties.
“It started with a slight tremor and loud boom, then the shaking started,” she said, adding that she was worried for her 93-year-old mother, whose bedroom is on the first floor of the two-story home.
“It lasted as long as it took me to run downstairs and get to my mom, who was disappointed she slept through it,” Eberhardt said.
Download the iHeartRadio app and stay tuned to KFI all day for updates.
Recent Comments