5.2 magnitude earthquake hits San Diego County, disrupting daily life

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit San Diego County on Monday, shaking homes and disrupting daily life across the region. Originating near Julian, the tremor was felt in San Diego, Orange, and Los Angeles counties, with residents noting its intensity and duration.

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck the interior of San Diego County, California, on Monday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake, which occurred at a depth of 13.4 kilometers (8.33 miles), was felt across a wide area, including parts of Orange and Los Angeles counties to the north.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located near the mountain town of Julian, in eastern San Diego County. Despite the significant shaking, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office reported no immediate reports of major damage or injuries.

Local residents described the intensity and duration of the tremor. Fritz Jensen, a Julian resident, noted that this earthquake lasted longer than previous ones he had experienced. “This earthquake was a little longer than the ones I've experienced before. The last one I saw, I was at work at night, and it was a little rolling. But this one seemed to be a little longer and more intense,” he said.

Morgan Alvarado, who was with her friend Anna Thomas at the time of the quake, recalled the unsettling moment. “We were together, walking out of my house, and we felt the whole house start to shake. We ran into the driveway because the house was shaking so bad, we didn’t know if it was going to be safe, even in the doorway,” she said.

Local store owner Sandra Slaughter-Moretti shared similar concerns. “It was way more intense and lasted a lot longer. The aftershocks were very strong also. Compared to the ones I’ve been in before at different times in my life, I felt like this one was a little more intense,” she explained.

Dylan McConnell, another Julian resident, described the terrifying moment from his perspective. “I was just laying down enjoying my normal day when, all of a sudden, I saw my entire room start to wobble, before I even felt it. Then, I felt it come up through the bed, and I just started shaking. I watched things fall down off the roof and the walls. I instantly thought about my business, thinking, ‘Oh no, everything’s going to be messed up,’ so I rushed over here and started picking things up. It was very intense,” McConnell said.

Though damage was reported in some local businesses, none of the staff were injured. Sandra Slaughter-Moretti added that her store had suffered some losses, including broken jars and pottery, but that no one was hurt during the event. "I've lived here my whole life, and today we had the most damage we've ever had. We lost about 20 broken jars, including some higher-end pottery," she said.

The shaking was felt over a large area, with reports of tremors from neighboring counties, including Orange and Los Angeles. The U.S. Geological Survey has yet to release further details, but the residents of San Diego County remain on alert as aftershocks continue to affect the region.

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