Over 350 earthquakes recorded since Friday in part of southern California
Over 350 earthquakes struck Imperial County, California, since Friday, with the strongest measuring magnitude 4.7 near Brawley, affecting nearly 200,000 residents across Southern California. The USGS attributed the activity to a seismic swarm in the Brawley seismic zone, an area prone to such events and linked to geothermal energy exploitation.
Nearly 200,000 people in Southern California experienced shaking from a swarm of earthquakes in Imperial County over the weekend. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded 354 earthquakes starting at 5:40 p.m. on Friday, with the strongest at magnitude 4.7 near Brawley at 11:10 p.m. Saturday. Residents in cities like El Centro, Calexico, El Cajon, and Chula Vista reported varying levels of shaking. The USGS described the swarm as a series of quakes not following a typical mainshock-aftershock pattern, common in the Brawley seismic zone. This area has a history of swarms and is linked to geothermal energy activity. The ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning system sent alerts to residents before the 4.7 quake. Reports indicate light to no damage, though 180,000 people felt shaking. Officials advised those experiencing tremors to drop, cover, and hold on. The Brawley seismic zone sits near the Brawley fault zone, part of a complex fault system connected to the Imperial fault zone. The USGS and Caltech classify it as prone to earthquake swarms. The cause of this swarm remains unclear, though geothermal energy exploitation is a noted factor. Residents can report felt earthquakes through the USGS Tellus system. No injuries or major damage have been confirmed.
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