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Swarm Of Small Quakes Hits California Desert

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Oct 29, 2008 10:10 pm US/Pacific

Swarm Of Small Quakes Hits California Desert

SAN DIEGO (AP) ― A swarm of earthquakes has hit a sparsely populated desert area called Ocotillo Wells, about 65 miles northeast of San Diego near the Salton Sea.

The U.S. Geological Service measured four quakes Wednesday night of magnitude 3.0 or greater, including a 3.6 magnitude temblor, a 3.5 and a 3.4. They all occurred within 40 minutes.

Kate Hutton, a California Institute of Technology seismologist, says swarms are typical in the area.

She says swarms usually occur for a few days, but it's impossible to know if the peak will come at the beginning, middle or end.

At the same time, she says, the cluster of quakes doesn't mean there is a bigger one coming.

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