Violent earthquake hits California

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake strucked Southern California on Monday April 14, 2025, shaking buildings and triggering rockfalls near San Diego.

The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the quake hit at 10:08 a.m., centered near Julian, a small mountain town.

According to reports, Julian, known for its apple pies, lies in San Diego County with a population of about 1,500.

People felt the tremor across Southern California, including parts of Los Angeles County, over 120 miles away.

Several aftershocks followed the quake, but authorities reported no serious damage or injuries.

Some roads near Julian were blocked by boulders dislodged by the quake’s force.

California transportation officials warned drivers to beware of falling rocks, especially on State Route 76.

Crews examined highways for potential structural damage following the temblor.

At the Eagle Mining Co. in Julian, picture frames toppled, but the tunnels remained intact.

The Director at Eagle Mining Co. Paul Nelson, described the shaking as intense but said nothing serious broke or collapsed.

He recalled a smaller quake on Sunday during a tour, which left visitors unfazed.

Nobody was inside the mine during Monday’s stronger quake, which lasted longer and caused more shaking.

At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, elephants formed an “alert circle” to protect their calves during the quake.

The park explained elephants detect seismic waves through their feet and respond instinctively.

Ndlula, Umngani, Khosi, Zuli, and Mkhaya were among the herd caught on video encircling their young.

After several minutes, the elephants appeared calm and returned to normal.

North County Transit District trains were delayed while inspectors checked the tracks for damage.

Spokesperson Mary Dover confirmed precautionary delays and thorough inspections were underway.

In schools, staff quickly evacuated children as buildings began to tremble.

Capt. Thomas Shoots of Cal Fire San Diego got a quake alert moments before the ground began to shake.

He described loud rumbling but confirmed all operations were back to normal shortly after.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department received no immediate reports of major damage or injuries.

At Julian Cafe & Bakery, cups fell off shelves, but owner Riley Ozuna reported no significant loss.

“It was startling,” she said, “but everything is OK now.”

The quake struck 13.4 kilometers deep near the Elsinore fault zone, part of the San Andreas system.

Veteran seismologist Lucy Jones said this region often sees magnitude 4.0 quakes annually.

Jones added that Sunday’s 3.5 quake was likely a foreshock to Monday’s main event.

Some residents received early alerts through ShakeAlert seconds before the quake hit.

Others got the warning after the tremors had already ended.

Meanwhile, Michigan residents 2,000 miles away received a mistaken ShakeAlert notification.

The alert caused confusion in Vanderbilt, Michigan, which is recovering from a recent ice storm.

Portable California towers deployed in the area accidentally triggered the warning.

“It was just bad timing,” said Lt. Ashley Miller of Michigan State Police.

Residents already rattled by the storm were briefly alarmed by the quake alert.

Despite widespread shaking, Southern California returned to calm with no major disruptions reported.

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