(KSWB/KUSI) — A preliminary 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook Southern California at 10:08 a.m. Monday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake’s epicenter was around two miles south of the community of Julian, about 60 miles east of San Diego. The quake struck at a depth of about 8 miles, the USGS said, and was felt as far north as Los Angeles.
A series of aftershocks shook the region in the hour after, with some stronger than magnitude 3.0.
A San Diego County firefighter who answered the phone at the Julian fire station said there were no reports of damage and no calls for service after what was a “good shaking.” The county police and sheriff’s departments also said they had received no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
Schoolchildren were escorted outside of buildings as a precaution when the ground started moving, said Capt. Thomas Shoots of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for San Diego County. He got a shake alert and then started feeling things rolling and swaying.
“There was a lot of shaking and rattling around,” he said. “But thankfully everything seems to be back to normal.”
Paul Nelson, owner of the Eagle Mining Co., an old-fashioned gold mine in Julian where visitors can learn about panning for gold, said it shook “pretty good” but there was no damage at the mine or the gift shop.
He said a couple of picture frames on the checkout counter at the gift shop were knocked over.
“I thought the single-pane windows were going to crack because they were shaking pretty good, but they didn’t,” he said.
Nelson said there was a smaller quake in the area on Sunday when there were 20 to 30 visitors at the mine, and that everyone stayed calm and continued their visit after it was over. Monday’s shake was stronger and longer but there were no visitors yet, he said.
“People are freaking out because it was kind of strong and it knocked things off the shelves,” he said, adding that there was a helicopter flying over the area.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the earthquake, his office said in a statement on social media. The state is working with local first responders to assess any damage.
California is known for its strong seismic activity, with only Alaska recording more earthquakes per year.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available. The Associated Press contributed to this report.