Dozens of earthquakes rattle southern California in reported swarm
While many of the earthquakes remained below magnitude 4.0, the swarm peaked with a magnitude 4.7 tremor just after midnight on Sunday.
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CALIFORNIA — Dozens of earthquakes rattled parts of California on Saturday and into Sunday in what experts call an earthquake swarm, with many centered near Brawley in Imperial County, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
While many of the earthquakes remained below magnitude 4.0, the swarm peaked with a magnitude 4.7 tremor just after midnight on Sunday. Reports of light shaking were felt from north of the city in the Coachella Valley, south to Calexico, and reaching into San Diego and Mexicali.
The initial quake that ignited the swarm in Brawley hit at approximately 4:14 p.m. local time on Saturday, measuring a 3.5 magnitude. It was centered 2 miles west-southwest of Brawley at a depth of about 8.5 to 9 miles, according to the USGS.
In fact, this past week in general has been active with earthquakes in the Golden State, stretching from the North Coast down through the Inland Empire and into the Imperial Valley.
SALTON CITY, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 30: A person walks with the Salton Sea in the distance on April 30, 2026 in Salton City, California. California has launched the Salton Sea Conservancy, its first new conservancy in more than 15 years, in an effort to support long-term habitat restoration while improving air quality around the deteriorating inland lake. The Salton Sea, located in the desert in Southern California, has been shrinking for decades and is now nearly twice as salty as the ocean while contaminated by pollutants including agricultural runoff. A deposit of geothermal brine beneath the Salton Sea is believed to hold one of the planet’s largest reserves of lithium and is worth an estimated $500 billion. The lithium could bring jobs to the region and help power electric vehicles, smartphones, and electricity grids while some residents are concerned that lithium extraction could exacerbate environmental issues. In 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom has called the area "the Saudi Arabia of lithium".
(Mario Tama / Getty Images)
The earthquakes in the Brawley swarm occurred at shallow depths, primarily ranging between 5 and 10 miles.
Shallow quakes are typically felt more strongly than deeper ones because they occur closer to the earth's surface, according to experts.
Earthquakes tracked over the past 24 hours in California.
There have been no reports of significant damage or injuries at this time. While larger quakes often trigger tsunami concerns, officials have ruled out any threat to the coast.
That said, experts will continue to monitor and review the seismic data.