5.2 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes San Diego Area; No Major Damage Reported

The California region experienced a 5.2-magnitude earthquake on Monday afternoon, with its epicenter located in Julian, approximately an hour northeast of San Diego, as reported by the US Geological Survey. The quake hit at 10:08 AM local time (18:00 GMT). Two hours post-quake, Perette Godwin, a spokeswoman for the City of San Diego, confirmed there were no reports of injuries or substantial damage.The San Diego sheriff's office echoed these sentiments, stating they hadn’t received reports of major damage either but were monitoring a developing situation. Shortly after the earthquake, California Governor Gavin Newsom's office announced that he had been updated on the ongoing circumstances. The USGS noted that smaller aftershocks followed in the area for about an hour.Emergency alerts issued by the USGS advised residents to take immediate shelter, reaching as far as Los Angeles, with directives to "Drop, cover, hold on. Protect yourself." Local resident Kevin Manaugh shared his experience, recalling he was having breakfast when the alert prompted him to seek safety under a door frame just before the quaking began."This is probably the worst quake that I've ever felt," Manaugh admitted. He described the shaking as intense and lasting roughly three seconds. Though his home remained intact, the experience urged him to consider preparing an evacuation bag for future emergencies, particularly in a state frequently affected by natural disasters like earthquakes and wildfires.