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5.2 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes San Diego Region

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake occurred in San Diego, California, and its neighboring areas on Monday afternoon, as reported by the US Geological Survey. The tremor took place at 10:08 AM local time (18:00 GMT), with its epicenter situated in Julian, California, a quaint resort town nestled in the Cuyamaca Mountains, approximately an hour northeast of the city.

Following the earthquake, Perette Godwin, a spokesperson for San Diego, stated that there were no initial reports of structural damage or injuries. The San Diego sheriff’s office echoed this sentiment, noting that they had not received any significant reports of damage or injuries, yet described the situation as “developing.”

Governor Gavin Newsom’s office took to social media shortly after the quake to inform the public that he had been briefed about the incident. The US Geological Survey also reported ongoing smaller aftershocks in the area during the hour following the initial quake. Fortunately, the National Weather Service indicated that a tsunami was not anticipated as a result of the seismic activity.

Before the earthquake struck, the USGS had issued emergency alerts, advising residents in areas as far away as Los Angeles to take cover. The message urged individuals to “Drop, cover, hold on. Protect yourself.”

One resident, Kevin Manaugh, shared his experience of the event, recalling that he was having breakfast when he received the alert and quickly moved to shelter in a doorframe. “Sure enough, the quaking started to happen,” he mentioned. Having lived in San Diego for most of his life, he noted that this was likely the most intense earthquake he had ever experienced. “It was a bit shocking,” he said, describing how everything shook for about three seconds before it ceased.

While predicting earthquakes remains a complex challenge, the alert system provided Manaugh with roughly 15 seconds to prepare. “The way they were able to predict that gave me time to get to a point of safety,” he reflected. Although his home sustained no damage, he expressed a new sense of urgency about being prepared for future seismic events. “Between this and the wildfires in Los Angeles, it made me think that it’s probably a good idea to have an evacuation bag,” he concluded, underscoring the necessity for preparedness in a region that is vulnerable to natural disasters.

Source
www.bbc.com