Live updates: Preliminary 5.2 earthquake strikes east of San Diego

To Ashley Pinnick and her family, Monday’s 5.2-magnitude earthquake had a sound and feel like she’d never experienced.

"It sounds like a rumbling in the Earth. It sounds like the Earth is upset. That's what it sounds like," Pinnick said.

A security camera captured Pinnick's motherly instinct when her Ramona home began to shake. She grabbed her 9-month-old son Michael and ran straight out the front door.

On closer examination, you can see the broken ceiling plaster falling. She thought the ceiling was collapsing. After what seemed longer but really lasted about 30 seconds, the ceiling remained intact but not whole.

Experts say the fault that caused Monday's quake is part of a well-known fault line called the Elsinore Fault.

A smaller 3.3-magnitude temblor happened there on Sunday afternoon. Dr. Rafael Almeida, an assistant professor at San Diego State University, told NBC 7 that was likely the foreshock before Monday's mainshock.

"After the earthquake, we're going to have smaller and smaller earthquakes are going to occur, and this tail can last for days, weeks, sometimes even months. For very large earthquakes, that can last years," Almeida said. "But in this case, it'll probably won't last more than a few days in the range of earthquakes that we can feel. So last night was probably a foreshock. The ones after the earthquakes are the aftershocks."

In this special from NBC 7, you will learn about the science behind earthquakes, the technology for early alerts, the measures you can take to protect your property, and how to prepare before a major earthquake occurs.

Monday's earthquake did not cause damage or injuries in the city of San Diego, a spokesperson for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department told NBC 7.

The preliminary 5.2 earthquake was centered east of San Diego in Julian.

Several Pacific Surfliner trains from San Diego (SAN) to LA (LAX) have been impacted with cancellations or delays due to the earthquake.

For the latest scheduling information, you can text 268725 or call 1-800-USA-RAIL.

Itinerary Change: Due to ongoing trainset delays, Train 586 is canceled between Los Angeles (LAX) and San Diego (SAN). Customers may board Train 790. For additional info, please text 268725 or call 1-800-USA-RAIL. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. #SurflinerAlert

— Pacific Surfliner (@PacSurfliners) April 14, 2025

SDG&E said its workers are inspecting electrical equipment following the earthquake, starting at the epicenter.

Anyone who has experienced downed power lines or gas leaks should report to 911 and SDG&E.

It's mostly business-as-usual in downtown San Diego after the earthquake.

NBC 7 spoke with workers and their reactions ranged from surprise to "just another day in the office" albeit with some shaking.

"Being a native Californian I haven’t felt one this large in a while, but it was not scary or anything like that," said Sandy Prince, who works downtown.

Alice Dufresn doesn't usually work Mondays but today she was in the office during the earthquake.

"They pulled me out of retirement," Dufresn said. "I only work Tuesday through Friday, five hours a day but I came in to train Sandy today and then there was an earthquake, so I was like, 'Oh, please.'"

The City of San Diego is closing the City Administration Building at 202 C St. downtown for the remainder of the day.

Inspections of the building are underway. No building damage has been reported and ongoing assessments are being completed out of an abundance of caution, the City of San Diego said.

The building, also known as City Hall, will be closed to the public and staff. City employees who had been working in the building will work the remainder of the day from home. Other city-owned facilities downtown have been assessed and are opened to the public and city staff, the City of San Diego said.

The City Council meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday will be held at the San Diego Civic Theatre on 1100 Third Ave. The public is invited to attend the meeting in person.

In order to complete inspections of the City Administration Building at 202 C Street in Downtown, the City of San Diego will be closing the building for the remainder of today, April 14.

— City of San Diego (@CityofSanDiego) April 14, 2025

Get ahead of the shake using the ShakeAlert app to detect earthquakes earlier.

The ShakeAlert Earthquake Detection system can detect earthquakes of all sizes, and it allows the agency to determine the size of the biggest earthquakes faster, so alerts can be sent to people’s phones quicker.

The ShakeAlert app was developed by the USGS and can be downloaded on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The earthquake also affected transit services in San Diego.

The North County Transit District said the Coaster traffic is halted between Solana Beach and Sorrento. Buses are provided. The Sprinter service will operate on a reduced schedule and will not serve CSUM until track inspections are complete.

Passengers needing service to CSUSM can take Breeze route 347 from Palomar College Station, according to the NCTD.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, #SPRINTER service will operate on a reduced schedule and will not serve CSUSM until track inspections are complete.

Passengers needing service to CSUSM can take BREEZE Route 347 from Palomar College Station. #NCTDAlert pic.twitter.com/uWDeV3EpZB

— NCTD Service Alerts (@NCTD_alerts) April 14, 2025

The Metropolitan Transit System said all trolleys are operating at restricted speeds out of precaution.

USGS reported shaking in parts of Los Angeles from the magnitude-5.2 earthquake Monday morning.

Parts of Los Angeles, Grand Terrace, the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Downey, Cypress, San Pedro, Long Beach, Seal Beach, Pasadena, Corona in Riverside County and other areas reported shaking. Initially reported at magnitude 6.0 and later downgraded, the quake triggered mobile emergency alerts on phones in Los Angeles County and elsewhere.

The earthquake was also reportedly felt in Mexicali.

Video of Monday's 5.2 earthquake continues to come in, showing the quake caught on home security cameras.

Do you have any images or video you'd like to share with NBC 7? Here is information on how to upload: UPLOAD YOUR MEDIA

Caltrans reported a small rockslide on State Route 76 east of E Grade Road following the morning's earthquake.

The transportation agency said their crews were out on area highways to assess damage from the quakes. They asked drivers to be alert and to watch for obstacles in the road.

Caltrans

Caltrans

Almost every Californian lives within 15 minutes of an active fault line. So, state and federal agencies have a wealth of resources to help residents prepare for the inevitable next quake.

Here is what you need to know before, during and after the rumbling.

Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones said the earthquake at a depth of 8.9 miles was most likely associated with the Elsinore Fault, which runs parallel to the San Andreas Fault.

"This is mostly associated with the Elsinore Fault. That's one of our major faults of Southern California. It is part of the San Andreas system," she said. "This area has had magnitude 5s in the last few decades."

The Elsinore Fault is one of Southern California's largest and quietest, according to the Southern California Earthquake Data Center. Only one earthquake greater than magnitude 5.2 — a magnitude-6.0 shock reported in 1910 near Temescal Valley — is associated with the main part of the fault.

The San Diego County Sheriff's office in Julian said there was no damage reported in the area near the epicenter, which was between Julian and Ramona near the San Diego Country Estates.

California Governor Newsom has been briefed on the earthquake.

The state is coordinating with local authorities to assess any damage and if emergency response is needed, the office said in a post on X.

NEW: @CAGovernor Newsom has been briefed on the earthquake in San Diego County.

The state is coordinating with local authorities to assess any damage and if emergency response is needed.

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) April 14, 2025

Watch footage of the moment an earthquake hit in East San Diego County.

Shaking was felt at the NBC 7 building in Kearny Mesa and across the county.

Reporter Joe Little saw construction crews running off a worksite following the earthquake alert.

At the Registrar of Voters office in Kearny Mesa, reporter Nicole Gomez felt her vehicle shake vigorously. Dozens of car alarms went off inside the parking garage.

Reporter Joey Safchik was in Los Angeles and said she did not feel the earthquake, but did get the ShakeAlert on her mobile phone.

San Diego State University sent a campus alert at 10:42 a.m. Monday, stating the campus will remain open and events and assessments will remain ongoing.

No damage or injuries were reported on campus.

The National Weather Service said a Tsunami is not expected.

Tsunami NOT expected. Did you feel it? We did 😮 #CAwx https://t.co/RzXKdKrXt5

— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) April 14, 2025

As of 10:30 a.m., seven small aftershocks have been recorded by the USGS.

Monday's earthquake follows a 3.5-magnitude temblor in the same area on Sunday afternoon.