East County News Service

Sources: Twitter, USGS & Bing AI

September 8, 2023 (Lake Henshaw) -- A 3.1 magnitude earthquake struck inland North County last night at approximately 10:59 p.m. reports the United States Geological Survey.12

Search Search | East County Magazine Earthquake safety for tips in case this is a pre-shock to something worse to come within the next days or week.

By Miriam Raftery

January 30, 2022 (Palomar) -- A 4.0 earthquake at 9:46 this morning struck approximately 5 kilometers west-southwest of Palomar Observatory in north San Diego County, the U.S. Geological Service reports.  That's about 18 miles northeast of Escondido.

The shaking was felt as far away as Mexico to the south, Santa Maria to the north, and Yuma, Arizona to the east.

June 10, 2016 (Borrego)—If you felt the earth move under your feet, that’s because a series of earthquakes struck in the Borrego Spring area including a 5.2 quake at 1:03 a.m.at a shallow depth or less than 1 kilometer along theSan Jacinto Fault.  Aftershocks as strong as 3.5 also rattled the area according to the U.S.. Geological Survey.

(Note: The USGS originally reported two strong quakes, 5.1 and 5.2, a minute apart but have since corrected the data to indicate this was just one major quake.)

Rocks are reported blocking the roadway on Montezuma Valley Road, per the CHP site.  There are no reports of serious damage as yet, though items felloff store shelves in La Quinta, a Lakeside resident reported a laptop fell to the ground and the screen broke. As far away as Downey, books reportedly fell off shelves.

We have reports the quakes were felt strongly across the San Diego region and as far away as the San Fernando Valley.  The quakes struck at a shallow depths near major fault lines capable of producing a 7.0 quake or higher. 

If you know of damage, impacts to roadways or other effects of the quake or have photos, contact editor@eastcountymagzine.org. You can also post in our commentsbelow.

Below are details:

December 19, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- An earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale struck north-central Baja, Mexico this evening about 70 kilometers northeast of Camalu.  Residents in Jacumba, Lakeside and El Cajon reported feeling the tremor, posting on the Brush Fire Partyline on Facebook.

"Mexico......whoa.....that moved alot in Lakeside," wrote Cats Ballzier. 

July 1, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Two quakes measuring 4.6 and 4.7 on the Richter scale struck Baja, California during the night.

The first jolt earthquake struck at 8:25 p.m.; the second at 11:36 p.m. 

East County News Service

July 10, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Fault lines in and near East County have become more active since the Easter earthquake in Mexico.  Both the San Jacinto and Elsinore faults have potential for a quake measuring 7.0 or higher, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.  Fortunately, planning and identifying  hazards ahead of time can reduce risk of serious harm before an earthquake hits.

For example, repairing deep plaster cracks in ceilings and foundations, anchoring overhead lights to the ceiling, and upgrading to meet local seismic building standards help reduce the impact of a quake. Creating an emergency supply kit and a family evacuation plan are also important.  Below are earthquake safety tips providing by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that you can take now—before a major quake hits our region.

June 14, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- A 5.7 earthquake struck 5 miles southeast of Ocotillo, near the San Diego County line,  at 9:38 p.m.  The jolt, originally reported as a 5.9, was later downgraded by the U.S. Geological Service, was felt throughout San Diego but most strongly in communities in East County.

A dozen aftershocks have already struck in the first 20 minutes after the initial quake. In addition, a 3.0 quake was centered 11 miles east of Pine Valley in San Diego County. 

"It was a pretty long jolt," said Sharon Courmousis, owner of Sacred Rocks RV Park in Boulevard, an East County community which she estimates is 20 to 30 miles from the quake's epicenter. "We've had a lot of aftershocks but no damage.  I was sitting in my RV.  It really rolled us, but nothing jolted off its pedestal."

May 22, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Two earthquakes measuring 5.3 and 4.8 in magnitude struck at 10:33 and 10:00 a.m. The temblors were centered 14 and 13 miles SSW of Seeley, California, according to the U.S. Geological Service.

The quakes caused significant shaking in East County and San Diego, causing windows to rattle on Mount Helix.  If you had damage from the quake, please post in the comments section below. Click here to see an enlarged map. 

No reports of damage have been received, said a dispatcher for Heartland Fire, which services much of East County.