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A 5.2 magnitude San Diego earthquake jolted Southern California Monday morning, with the epicenter near the mountain town of Julian, northeast of the city. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake struck at 10:08 a.m. local time, followed by multiple aftershocks.

According to USGS data, the quake was felt as far north as Los Angeles, and nearly 40,000 people reported feeling the shaking via the USGS "Did You Feel It?" program.

📍 USGS Earthquake Map – Julian, CA Quake Details

Elsinore Fault Activity and Foreshocks

The earthquake occurred along the Elsinore Fault, which is typically considered "relatively quiet," said USGS seismologist Elizabeth Cochran in an interview with Newsweek. Cochran noted that the quake was preceded by 14 foreshocks, including a magnitude 3.3 event on Sunday.

Renowned seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones, founder of the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society, explained that any earthquake could be a foreshock. “Essentially, a foreshock is a main shock that happens to have a really big aftershock,” she said during a press briefing.

Jones added that the quake was “felt over a very large area,” stretching from San Diego and the California-Mexico border to Los Angeles. She emphasized that earthquakes in the 5.0 to 5.5 range typically do not cause major structural damage, although items may fall from shelves.

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No Reports of Major Damage or Injuries

The Associated Press confirmed that San Diego law enforcement reported no immediate injuries or significant damage. California Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the incident. Additionally, the National Weather Service (NWS) stated that no tsunami warning was issued following the quake.

📰 Newsweek Coverage of San Diego Earthquake

San Diego Earthquake Aftershocks

As of Monday afternoon, the USGS reported at least eight aftershocks in the Julian area.

These smaller quakes mostly ranged between 2.6 and 2.9 in magnitude, though the strongest aftershock measured a magnitude 4.0, occurring less than 20 minutes after the main event. The most recent aftershock occurred just before 1:30 p.m. local time.

Aftershocks are common following larger quakes and can continue for hours or days.

Elephants React to Quake at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

A dramatic video released by the San Diego Zoo Safari Park showed a herd of African elephants forming an “alert circle” to protect their young during the quake.

The elephants’ behavior, which involves creating a tight protective ring, is believed to have been triggered by their ability to detect ground vibrations through their feet.

The herd—including elephants named Ndlula, Umngani, Khosi, Zuli, and Mkhaya—quickly regrouped and appeared calm after a few minutes.

🐘 Watch the San Diego Zoo Safari Park Elephants React

🎥 Newsweek Report: Elephants Form Alert Circle