5.1 quake shakes seismically active Calif-Mexico border; no immediate damage reports

5.1 quake hits seismically active Calif. border

EL CENTRO, Calif. — A magnitude-5.1 earthquake struck the seismically active California-Mexico border region Tuesday, shaking a wide area of Southern California. There were no immediate reports of damage.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at 5:38 p.m. and was centered 18 miles west-southwest of El Centro, the Imperial County seat in the state’s southeastern corner.

The region on both sides of the border has been shaking with aftershocks since a magnitude-7.2 quake struck in northern Baja California on April 4.

Tuesday’s quake was felt at San Diego’s Petco Park, about 90 miles to the west, and in adjacent counties. The USGS website for citizen reports showed responses from as far north as Los Angeles, 175 miles away.

Imperial County Sheriff’s Department dispatcher Veronica Marron said the quake was strongly felt but there were no immediate reports of damage.

Carla Lopez, 17, a hostess and cashier at the Burgers and Beer bar in El Centro, said the shaking lasted at least 20 seconds.

“It was strong but nothing fell,” she said. “All the customers just looked around, nobody ran out or anything. If it went on any longer, I would have run though.”

At the Styles and Smiles salon, bottles of shampoo rattled, but the haircuts and massage therapy sessions continued.

“We just try to keep the customers relaxed,” said owner Lourdes “Lulu” Castro. “We’re used to it. We were just like ‘OK, here it comes.’”