(ETH) – Imperial County was hit by a swarm of earthquakes Saturday, the largest one measuring magnitude 5.2, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Quake swarms are not unusual for this border region. But the magnitude 5.2 quake is considered moderate.
The biggest quake in the swarm was felt across Imperial County, in San Diego, and in parts of the Inland Empire. There were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage.
The earthquake swarm appeared to strike in the southern end of the Brawley Seismic Zone, a seismically active region where tectonic plates are moving away from each other.
The area sees regular seismic activity including swarms of hundreds of quakes. The Brawley Seismic Zone is particularly important to watch because it is the region that connects the San Andreas and Imperial faults, both of which can produce damaging earthquakes.
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake was reported at 10:55 a.m. Pacific time nine miles from Brawley. The earthquake occurred 18 miles from Imperial, 22 miles from El Centro, 30 miles from Calexico, and 45 miles from Coachella, Calif. In the last 10 days, there have been 11 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby. READ MORE
