Magnitude 4.1 temblor jolts region of California, same spot of huge earthquake swarm

The seismic event struck 18 miles south of Salton City and 4 miles southeast of Ocotillo Wells at precisely 5:17 a.m.Photo byUSGS

A magnitude 4.1 earthquake jolted California's Imperial County near the Salton Sea on Monday morning, sending ripples of tremors across the region and prompting residents to brace for the sudden jolt.

The seismic event struck 18 miles south of Salton City and 4 miles southeast of Ocotillo Wells at precisely 5:17 a.m., according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which closely monitors seismic activity across the nation.

Residents across a wide swath of Southern California, including Chula Vista, Mission Viejo, Highland, and Indio, reported feeling the quake, underscoring the far-reaching impact of the seismic disturbance.

Monday's earthquake follows a weekend marked by a swarm of smaller quakes, adding to the heightened seismic activity in the region. Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones shed light on the ongoing tremors, describing them as part of a typical phenomenon known as a "swarm" in the Imperial Valley.

"The current quakes in the Imperial Valley are being called a swarm. These have been common in the Imperial Valley. As of 6:00 pm on 5/18, we have 16 M≥3 events, near the Imperial Fault," Dr. Jones shared on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday.

Despite the significant magnitude of Monday's quake and the preceding swarm of seismic events, there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. However, residents remain vigilant as aftershocks continue to reverberate through the region, serving as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of seismic activity in California.