A moderate earthquake has struck in the Salton Sea, Californian, close to the San Andreas fault today, seismologists said.

The magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred about 05.00 local time, two miles south of Bombay Beach on the eastern shore of the Salton Sea, according to the U.S. Geological Survey website. The quake occurred at a depth of 3.5 miles. Bombay Beach is considered the southern end of the San Andreas Fault.

There have been at least 23 aftershocks, the largest a 3.1 magnitude, which struck at 06:52 in the same area. No damage was reported in the thinly populated area.

Over the weekend, the Salton Sea was struck by 42 smaller quakes during a 48-hour period, beginning Saturday morning and tapering off early Monday. Scientist have been keeping a close watch on the region because they believe that an earthquake there could set off a fault movements leading to a major earthquake that would devastate Los Angeles.