A 5.2-magnitude earthquake near San Diego rattled Southern California on Monday morning.
The quake centered near San Diego, but shockwaves were felt as far as Los Angeles more than 100 miles away, according to the US Geological Survey.
“Drop, Cover, Hold On. Protect yourself,” authorities urged residents in an emergency alert as tremors wobbled roadways and high-rise buildings.
Debris seen on California’s Route 76 near San Diego after an earthquake on April 14, 2025. Facebook/Caltrans District 11
The earthquake registered at 5.2-magnitude on the Richter scale. Facebook/Caltrans District 11
A map of the earthquake in San Diego on Monday. USGS
Ashley Pinnick evacuating her home in the San Diego area with her baby during the earthquake. Facebook/Ashley PinnickSocial media videos show the quake spooked pets, knocked dishes off shelves, and even left one liquor store littered with broken booze bottles.
The quake had an intensity of IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale – strong enough to wobble cars and rattle windows, with a sensation like a “heavy truck hitting building,” according to USGS.
“Just had a fat earthquake. Just fixed up the f—ing store. S–t is everywhere!” liquor store owner Dylan Carniero said in a video of the aftermath supplied to ABC 10.
One video showed the wobbling waters of a swimming pool, and another showed stray utensils scattered all over a woman’s kitchen.
“Happy Monday!” she says while filming the mess.
The temblor hit about 10:08 a.m. local time, with its epicenter near the town of Julian, northeast of San Diego.
Californians took to social media to post videos of wobbling furniture and confused pets.
Several people said they had never felt an earthquake that big.
“I thought a car hit my house. Literally, that’s what it felt like, it feels like a car hit your house,” said one TikTok user.
“Literally my whole house was shaking, stuff was just falling off the walls,” reported another.
“I was just parked in the car and all of a sudden I was like why is the car moving and shaking and then I looked out the window and all the cars … were moving,” said a third.






