4.9 earthquake near Salton Sea produces light shaking in San Diego County
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake erupted near the Salton Sea, not far from the southern San Andreas fault, at 5:31 p.m. on Wednesday, producing a swarm of smaller temblors, according to the US Geological Survey.
The mainshock began about 2 miles north-northwest of Brawley, at a depth of 7.2 miles, which is common in Southern California.
Some of the seismic energy was felt in San Diego County, including in Oceanside, Fallbrook, Carlsbad, San Marcos, Chula Vista and San Diego, the USGS said. The epicenter was about 95 miles east-northeast of San Diego.
“This was in the Brawley seismic zone which has produced a lot of swarms over the years,” said Tom Rockwell, a seismologist at San Diego State University. “The question always is: Will it set off the southern San Andreas? No one knows.”
The Brawley zone links the southern San Andreas and the Imperial fault systems. It’s located in one of the most seismically active regions of California and has long been a concern because it could help set off a catastrophic quake on the southern San Andreas fault, seismologists say.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/science/story/2020-09-30/5-1-earthquake-near-salton-sea-produces-light-shaking-in-san-diego-county
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