The earthquake hit near the small resort town of Julian, California. BBC
A 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit the San Diego area on Monday morning at 10:08 a.m. The quake's center was about 2.5 miles south of Julian, a small town in San Diego County. It shook large parts of Southern California and even reached parts of Mexico.
Experts say the quake was likely caused by movement along the Elsinore Fault. This fault is part of the larger and well-known San Andreas Fault system. According to seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones, the earthquake happened around eight miles underground. She also said a smaller 3.3-magnitude quake on Sunday in the same area was a warning sign.
Many people across the region felt the shaking. Some ran outside in fear. Thankfully, there are no reports yet of major injuries or serious damage. But officials are still checking.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria shared a post saying the city had a strong quake but no major damage had been reported so far. He asked people to report any damage using the city’s online tool.
Shortly after the big shake, several smaller ones followed. These are called aftershocks. The strongest one reached a magnitude of 4.0. In total, at least nine aftershocks were recorded by the early afternoon. Most were around the same area as the main quake.
People in different towns shared what they experienced. Robin Boland from Julian said the whole town felt it. "Everyone ran outside to check on one another. Car alarms went off. It was loud and scary," she said.
A woman from Carlsbad named Caroline said, "The jolt was sudden and strong. The building moved a lot. I haven’t felt anything like this in years."
In Julian, Dylan Carniero was inside his liquor store when the earthquake hit. He was about to use the restroom when the shaking began. "I heard bottles crashing. Several fell and broke. It was loud and messy," he said.
In Ramona, Ashley Pinnick’s home was damaged. "The roof cracked. I thought it was going to fall," she said. She yelled for her family to leave the house as she heard the wooden beams making noise.
Linda Rangel, working from home in Escondido, ran out of her house without shoes or her phone. "I just wanted to get out. The building was creaking. I panicked," she said. Her house was fine in the end, but the experience shook her up.
For now, officials are keeping a close watch. People are being asked to stay alert and report anything unusual. The quake reminds everyone in the region to stay prepared. Earthquakes can strike without warning.
This story is still developing, and more updates will come as officials learn more.
