A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck near the mountain town of Julian in Southern California on Monday morning, rattling areas across San Diego, Los Angeles, and Orange counties. The tremor occurred at 10:08 a.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and was followed by a series of aftershocks ranging from magnitude 2.0 to 3.0.
The quake's epicenter was located roughly 2.5 miles south of Julian, a small resort town in the Cuyamaca Mountains known for its apple orchards and bakeries. Although it was felt widely - with reports coming from Riverside, Palm Springs, and the San Fernando Valley - no significant damage or injuries were reported as of Monday afternoon.
"There's nothing about what we see at this point that's surprising," said seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones in a press briefing. "There shouldn't be any structural damage. If there is, it's in a pretty bad building. There would be things displaced off of shelves."
A 3.3 magnitude foreshock was recorded Sunday afternoon ahead of the main tremor. Jones noted there is still a "5% chance" the 5.2 quake could be a foreshock to a larger event, though statistically, "19 out of 20 times what you're seeing is the biggest one."
California Governor Gavin Newsom's office confirmed that he had been briefed on the incident. "The state is coordinating with local authorities to assess any damage and if emergency response is needed," the governor's office stated on X.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department issued a similar update that they have not "received any reports of injuries or major damage caused by the earthquake," noting it remains a "developing situation."
Emergency alerts were sent to residents in the broader region advising them to take cover. "Drop, cover, hold on. Protect yourself," one message read.
The National Weather Service stated that no tsunami warning had been issued, which Jones confirmed. "As long as the earthquake is on land, you're not going to be seeing tsunami," she said. "You have to have the fault under the water."
Metrolink suspended train service between Oceanside and San Clemente for track inspections as a precautionary measure. Officials did not give a timeline for resuming service.
