The quakes continue as a new fault is found east of San Diego

Ever since the 7.2 Easter Sunday earthquake shook Southern California and parts of Mexico, several smaller earthquakes have continued to tremble throughout San Diego. It’s possible that even the most recent quakes are aftershocks to the one that occurred almost two months ago.

Just last night, two small earthquakes rumbled off the San Diego coast. At 8:52PM, a 3.6 earthquake occurred off the coast southwest of San Ysidro.

Five minutes later, a second earthquake of a 4.3 magnitude followed. According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred beneath the seafloor off Rosarito Beach, at 8:57PM. The San Diego Union Tribune clarifies that the quake “happened between two well known faults, the San Clemente and the San Diego Trough,” although the quake began south of both fault systems.

It is unclear whether the smaller earthquake caused the later 4.3 quake.

Although many San Diegans were shaken after the Easter Sunday earthquake, it seems that much of San Diego remains calm after last night’s double quake.

Several San Diego locals commented that they “didn’t feel any of them.” And according to San Diego County sheriff’s Lt. Mike Munsey, the department didn’t receive any calls or reports of damage.

However, some locals do show concern for the periodic earthquake occurrences. Jennifer K. of Mira Mesa adds, “it seems like they’re becoming more frequent. It’s kind of scary.”

It’s unclear whether Tuesday’s quakes were aftershocks of the big Easter quake; however, it has been confirmed that April’s 7.2 quake caused “a small, previously unknown fault near Ocotillo to rupture the Earth’s surface,” making it’s existence known to geologists in the Yuha desert.

This newly discovered fault is located 80 miles east of San Diego, and is now called the “Yuha fault.”

The California Geological Survey’s Geologist Jerry Treiman explained to The Union Tribune that the Yuha fault “is about four miles long, which is generally not big enough to produce a significant quake of its own.”

To better understand the recent earthquakes and faults, click here. Stay safe, San Diego!

*Photo from WikiMedia Commons