5.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Near San Diego

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake occurred near Julian, California, about 60 miles northeast of San Diego, on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 10:08 a.m. local time. The tremor was felt all over Southern California, even as far away as Long Beach and Los Angeles. Residents received vital seconds of notice before the shaking started thanks to the United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) prompt Shake Alert notifications. No serious injuries or structural damage were reported, despite the earthquake’s widespread sensation. Governor Gavin Newsom was briefed shortly after the event by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, which confirmed that there were no significant incidents.​

In one particularly touching instance, a herd of elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park naturally created a protective “alert circle” around their youngest members, Zuli and Mkhaya, both of whom were seven years old. This behavior, which was recorded on video, demonstrates the elephants’ innate reaction to perceived dangers as well as their capacity to sense seismic activity by feeling ground vibrations.
Numerous smaller aftershocks were detected in the area after the main earthquake. Such aftershocks, according to experts, are normal and do not always portend a more significant seismic event.​