Earthquake centered near Borrego Springs rattles San Diego County

Geological Survey reports quake had a reported magnitude of 5.2

North Coast Current

San Diego County and regions beyond felt a moderate earthquake at 1:04 a.m. June 10.

The quake, centered in Anza Borrego State Park near Borrego Springs (updated 2:05 a.m.), had a reported magnitude of 5.2 (updated 1:45 a.m.) on the Richter scale, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake was about 5 miles deep, making it a relatively shallow temblor, according to the agency. The quake broke on the San Jacinto fault (updated 2:13 a.m.).

Social media lit up with reports of the quake, felt in varying degrees from as far south as Chula Vista to as far north as parts of Los Angeles. “Earthquake! It felt like a bus hit our house,” pro skateboarder Tony Hawk posted on Twitter @tonyhawk. Longtime San Diego journalist Randy Dotinga humorously noted that the quake might have been political in nature, Tweeting @rdotinga, “The earth just deleted an account.”

Observers on Facebook and Twitter from around San Diego County said they felt the quake from as little as a couple seconds with little shaking in Carlsbad to upwards of 10 seconds or so and stronger shaking in parts of Encinitas, San Marcos and elsewhere.

Reported shaking that lasts for 10 seconds or more can generally indicate an earthquake of about magnitude 5. Dr. Lucy Jones, seismologist and USGS scientist emerita, noted on Twitter @DrLucyJones: “Bigger EQs last a longer time. If you feel 10+ sec of shaking, you know it is at least M5.”

Did you feel the quake? Tweet to the North Coast Current @nccurrent.