A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Southern California on Monday morning, shaking areas around San Diego and triggering the state’s emergency alert system. The epicentre was located near Julian, a small mountain town in San Diego County, at approximately 10:00 am local time.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake originated around 35 miles northeast of San Diego and 120 miles south of Los Angeles. While the tremor was widely felt, officials reported no immediate injuries or structural damage.
The Julian area, known for its rustic charm and apple pie, experienced light shaking. Some minor items were displaced — such as cups falling at the Julian Cafe & Bakery — but no calls for emergency assistance were reported. Local fire and sheriff departments confirmed they had received no emergency calls related to the quake.
The quake caused light fixtures to sway and shelves to rattle in San Diego and was felt as far north as Los Angeles. California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that he had been briefed and that state officials were working with local responders to assess any potential damage.
This earthquake served as a real-time test for the ShakeAlert system, a network operated by the USGS that pushes out advance warnings via mobile phones and emergency systems. Residents in San Diego received alerts up to 14 seconds before the shaking began, instructing them to “drop, cover and hold”.
This was the second quake in the area in under 24 hours, following a 3.5 magnitude tremor on Sunday afternoon. Aftershocks were recorded within minutes of the larger quake, including tremors measuring 3.0 and 2.5.
Experts say while the region is well-adapted to seismic activity, landslides and liquefaction remain potential hazards in such quakes. Nonetheless, the structural resilience of buildings in the region helped mitigate any significant impact from Monday’s event.
