California earthquake swarm felt in Arizona, Mexico, USGS says

August 26, 2012 – LOS ANGELES, CA – The series of moderate earthquakes — including several magnitude 5.0 and above — were felt as far north as Orange County, east into Arizona and south into Mexico, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The USGS recorded more than two dozen earthquakes in Imperial County, many of them near Brawley. Officials said people reported feeling the quake in Yuma, Ariz., Lake Havasu as well as in Baja California. The USGS’s “Do You Feel It” system shows the quakes were felt as far away as San Diego, Temecula and San Clemente. The 5.4 quake was also felt in Moreno Valley, Indio, National City and Palm Desert. The quakes could be felt in the press box at the Del Mar Race Track in neighboring San Diego County, where the $1-million Pacific Classic is scheduled later Sunday. Between 10 a.m. and 12:50 p.m., the same area was shaken by quakes ranging in magnitude from 2.0 to 5.4, the USGS reported. The burst of quakes took place roughly 16 miles from El Centro and 92 miles from Tijuana. In the last 10 days, there have been six earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby. There were no immediate reports of serious damage or injuries from the temblor, though reports were still coming in. The border region is known for frequent seismic activity, though the size of these quakes is larger than typically seen. –LA Times

SAN DIEGO, CA — A series of earthquakes – some only seconds apart – has rattled rural areas of Imperial and San Diego counties. Paul Caruso with the U.S. Geological Survey says the first quake struck at 10:02 a.m. Sunday about three miles north-northwest of Brawley. It was followed by a 3.4 quake about 90 seconds later in the same area near the southern end of the Salton Sea. Magnitude 2.2 and 2.0 quakes followed within six minutes of the first shock. In the hour after the first earthquakes, at least 10 more quakes struck the same approximate epicenter about 16 miles north of El Centro. The largest quakes, a 5.3 and a 4.9, struck about two minutes apart just after 12:30 p.m. So far, more than 20 quakes greater than 3.0 in magnitude have shaken the region over a three-hour period. A sheriff’s dispatcher says there have been no reports of damage or injuries. Caruso says scientists aren’t yet sure what fault the quake cluster was on but they are near the 800-mile San Andreas Fault. –Bakersfield Now

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