California Earthquake, 5.3-Magnitude, Hits Coast Near King City

A mild earthquake and aftershock struck the central California coastline this past weekend. The Associated Press reports that authorities have had no reports of damage from the 5.3-magnitude quake.

The quake struck just 16 miles outside of King City, 21 miles from Greenfield, 27 miles from of Soledad and 30 miles from Coalinga, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's website. The site claims approximately 6,700 people reported feeling the magnitude 5.3-quake late Saturday night; mostly big farms were hit by the quake, in the rural area of rolling hills

The temblor hit in a "seismically active area" close to the San Andres Fault, about 90 miles southeast of San Jose, USGS geophysicist, Don Blakeman, told the AP. After the quake, there were a minimum of four aftershocks of greater than magnitude 2.5.

The USGS said an earthquake of this caliber can cause damages, but minor ones like knocking lighter objects from shelves and causing things to fall over, or causing breaks in concrete structures, paths and foundations. The AP reported that the sheriff's departments for Monterey and nearby San Luis Obispo counties claim there were no reported damages from the quake.