A 5.1 aftershock from the Mexicali earthquake struck the border region Friday afternoon, one of hundreds over the last week.
No immediate damage or injuries were reported from the temblor, which occurred at 4:05 p.m. about 36 miles south of Mexicali.
Seismologists said Southern California and Baja California residents can expect aftershocks from Sunday’s 7.2 temblor south of Mexicali to continue.
Aftershocks have led officials in the Imperial Valley
border town of Calexico to expand the area of the downtown business
district that has been closed since the quake.
After a 5.5 temblor Thursday, a roof collapsed on one building and
more businesses sustained broken windows and cracked walls. City
officials had hoped to reopen many of the businesses this weekend, but
that plan is now on indefinite hold.
More buildings have been "red-tagged" until structural engineers can perform inspections to see if they can be repaired or must be razed. Also,
homes in the older part of the city have been ruled off limits.
"Things have gotten worse," said Hildy Carrillo, executive director
of the Calexico Chamber of Commerce. "Roofs and walls that were hanging
by a thread after Sunday are coming down."
— Tony Perry in San Diego