Swarm of Earthquakes Near Brawley Rattles Region, Largest at M3.9 Felt as Far as Mexicali

A swarm of about 17 small to minor earthquakes occurred just south of Brawley last night, with the largest registering a magnitude 3.9 (originally reported as a 3.7 then a 4.0 and later downgraded). Prior to the M3.9 event, two smaller quakes measuring M2.3 and M2.7 were recorded. Following the mainshock, a series of aftershocks occurred in quick succession, including a M3.3 aftershock.

The earthquake was widely felt throughout the Imperial Valley, waking many residents. As of 12:27 PM, a total of 17 earthquakes have been recorded in the area. Similarly, in May 2024, over 200+ earthquakes were reported in the same area.

The last major swarm in the region occurred on May 18, 2024, with the largest quake also reaching M3.9, followed by several magnitude 3 events.

The activity occurred near both the Imperial Fault Zone and the Brawley Seismic Zone. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake most likely resulted from right-lateral strike-slip faulting. This region is known for its seismic activity due to the complex and active fault systems present.

Stay Prepared

Residents are reminded to always follow proper earthquake safety precautions:

• Ensure you have an emergency kit.

• Be prepared for larger or damaging earthquakes that may cause power outages.

• Always have an evacuation plan in case of emergencies.