5.2 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Southern California, Rattling Shelves, Wildlife

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake rattled Southern California on Monday morning, sending shockwaves across the region, triggering rockslides, and causing brief moments of alarm at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, The AP reports.

The quake struck at 10:08 a.m. local time, according to the US Geological Survey, and was centered in San Diego County, just a couple of miles  from Julian, a mountain town known for its apple pies.

While officials reported no injuries or major damage, the temblor was felt as far north as Los Angeles County, approximately 120 miles away, and was followed by several aftershocks.

In Julian, the earthquake caused some picture frames to fall at the gift shop of the Eagle Mining Co., but the tourist-accessible tunnels suffered no damage. The mine had experienced a smaller quake on Sunday while visitors were touring the facility, but everyone remained calm. No one was inside the mine during Monday’s larger earthquake.

Transportation officials warned motorists to be cautious of rocks that had fallen from hillsides onto roads and highways, including State Route 76 northwest of Julian. The California Department of Transportation in San Diego County is currently assessing roadways for potential damage.

At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, a herd of African elephants was caught on video exhibiting their natural protective instincts. The elephants, including Ndlula, Umngani, Khosi, and their young calves Zuli and Mkhaya, were seen encircling the youngsters in what is known as an “alert circle.” Elephants can sense sound through their feet, and this behavior is a typical response to seismic activity. The herd appeared to relax after several minutes.

The North County Transit District experienced train delays as crews inspected the tracks for potential damage, according to spokesperson Mary Dover.

As a precautionary measure, schoolchildren were escorted outside of buildings when the ground began to shake, said Capt. Thomas Shoots of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for San Diego County.

The quake struck at a depth of 8.3 miles near the Elsinore fault zone, which is part of the San Andreas fault system and one of the most seismically active areas in California.