5.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern California

Seismic Activity in Southern California

On Monday morning, Southern California experienced a 5.2 magnitude earthquake, shaking the region. The Seismological Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology confirmed the earthquake occurred at 10:08 a.m. PT near Julian, California.

Details from Seismologists

According to Dr. Lucile Jones, a seismologist with Caltech, the quake followed a smaller 3.3 magnitude foreshock that took place just before 4 p.m. on Sunday. This activity appears to be linked to the Elsinore fault line, Dr. Jones explained during a post-quake call. She noted that the earthquake’s depth was approximately 13 kilometers (about 8 miles) below the surface.

Impact and Response

The shockwaves were felt across the state, reaching from San Diego to Los Angeles. Governor Gavin Newsom has been kept informed of the situation. His office stated, “The state is working with local officials to evaluate any damage and assess whether emergency measures are necessary.”

People Affected by the Tremors

The United States Geological Survey indicated that those in close proximity to the epicenter felt “moderate shaking,” while over 25 million individuals across the region experienced “weak to light shaking.”

Potential for Further Activity

Dr. Jones highlighted that predicting if a larger earthquake will follow this event is not currently possible. “Every earthquake has the potential to be a precursor to something more significant,” she mentioned, noting that there’s usually a 5% probability of an earthquake being followed by a stronger one.

CNN’s Stephanie Elam provided coverage from Los Angeles, with additional reporting by Brandon Miller in Atlanta and Chelsea Bailey from Washington, DC.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.