California rocked by 5.1 ‘shallow’ earthquake near Indio Hills as panicked residents report ‘quite a jolt’

Southern California was struck Monday evening by a 5.1-magnitude ‘shallow’ earthquake.

The US Geological Survey reported that the quake struck at 5.56pm, with an epicenter approximately five miles northeast of Indio Hills on the San Andreas Fault.

It occurred at a depth of just two miles underground.

Locals reported that they received an emergency alert, reading: ‘Earthquake Detected! Drop, Cover Hold On. Protect Yourself. – USGS Shake Alert.’

Many quickly took to social media to discern how widespread the tremor was.

‘We just had quite a jolt,’ one X user wrote. ‘The earthquake shook the c*** out of us.’

Another wrote that it was a ‘good shaker in the desert,’ while a third X user reported feeling her apartment building sway in Orange.

Aftershocks may now be forthcoming.

The US Geological Survey reported that a 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Indio Hills just before 6pm on Monday

The epicenter was approximately five miles northeast of Indio Hills (pictured) on the San Andreas Fault

Experts say the best way to protect yourself during a quake is to drop and take cover.

‘Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy,’ officials advised in the Sacramento Bee.

‘If you’re using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops.’

They also said residents should cover their head and neck with their arms and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.

If no shelter is available, residents should crawl to an interior wall away from the windows.