Moderate 5.2 earthquake hits California

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake shook an area in eastern San Diego County early Friday morning. The U.S. Geological Survey said the epicenter was 20 miles from Rancho Mirage. The quake was felt in Los Angeles and San Diego.

The earthquake occurred at 1:04 a.m., according to early information from the United States Geological Survey. Initial incomplete data had suggested two quakes of roughly the same size shook within a minute.

The temblor was centered in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Minutes later, there were two aftershocks that measured at 3.0 and 3.5. Dozens of small aftershocks followed as well, as are to be expected following a decent-sized quake.

There were no immediate reports of damage.

All earthquakes were centered about 15.5 miles southwest of La Quinta.

The San Jacinto fault is one of Southern California’s most active, seismologist Lucy Jones pointed out on Twitter following the quakes on Friday. She also calmed some nerves when saying quakes on the San Jacinto fault have never triggered an earthquake on the San Andreas fault, which is more than 150 years overdue on its southern end that starts at the Salton Sea and heads northeast through the Coachella Valley.

Agencies/Canadajournal