SALTON SEA--An earthquake swarm beneath the Salton Sea appears to be easing.

The frequency and number of quakes are diminishing. The last one strong enough to be felt occurred Friday.

The quakes began March 21st and reached a peak last Tuesday with an M4.8 jolt. All had an epicenter southeast of Bombay Beach.

Seismologists expressed some concern because it was within three-miles of the Southern Branch San Andreas Fault where the ‘big one’ is most likely to occur.

The Salton Sea swarm was on a cross-fault. One seismologist said it could have transferred ‘static stress’ to the San Andreas.

An unrelated series of micro-quakes occurred Sunday at seven Inland Empire locations including the Chino Hills.

Story Date: March 31, 2009