Moderate Earthquake Shakes Baja

A moderate earthquake shook northern Baja Mexico this past Friday. Centered about sixteen miles southeast of Mexicali and 100 miles east of Tijuana, the quake registered a magnitude of 5.4. At least fifteen aftershocks were also felt, including four with magnitudes ranging from 3.0-3.8.
No injuries were reported from these quakes, and damage was minimal. The 24-hour Sony Corp., Honeywell International Inc., and other major manufacturing factory operations were suspended and about 80,000 workers were evacuated while the buildings were checked for damage. About 400,000 residents were without power, and over a million were without cellular service.
Baja California is no stranger to seismic activity. The Sea of Cortez is essentially an extension of the fault lines that regularly shake southern California. Dormant volcanoes dot the landscape as one progresses along the peninsula, and in some areas, hot water seeps are a testament to the ongoing geologic activity of the region.
Minor shudders and earth trembles are regular occurrences throughout Baja, but the last time that an earthquake of this magnitude was felt was in 2006, when another 5.4 earthquake hit Mexicali. No injuries or damage were reported in the 2006 quake either.