A 5.2-magnitude earthquake rattled the San Diego area on Monday afternoon, catching many residents off guard. The quake hit at 10:08 AM local time (18:00 GMT) with its epicenter located near the resort town of Julian in the Cuyamaca Mountains, about an hour northeast of San Diego, as reported by the US Geological Survey.
About two hours after the incident, Perette Godwin, a spokesperson for the City of San Diego, confirmed to the BBC that officials had not received any reports of injuries or significant structural damage. The San Diego sheriff's office echoed this statement, noting it was still a "developing situation” as the region continued to experience smaller aftershocks.
California Governor Gavin Newsom's office released an update on social media shortly after the quake, indicating he was briefed on the developments. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service assured residents that there was no tsunami threat following the seismic event.
Before the quake struck, emergency alerts from the USGS advised residents to seek shelter, with warnings extending as far as Los Angeles. One local resident, Kevin Manaugh, recounted his experience of receiving the alert while having breakfast. He quickly moved to take cover under a door frame before the shaking began.
"It was a bit shocking," Manaugh shared. "Everything shook, it shook a lot. It rattled around and lasted maybe three seconds, and then it was over." He described the quake as perhaps the most intense he had experienced during his lifetime in San Diego.
Despite no damage to his home, Manaugh reflected on the event, considering the importance of being prepared for future earthquakes, especially given the recent wildfire threats as well. "It's probably a good idea to have an evacuation bag," he added, underscoring the importance of readiness in the face of natural disasters.
