SALTON SEA, CALIFORNIA — People across southern California are on heightened alert for a major earthquake this week, reported the Orange County Register, citing officials. <br /> <br />More than 200 earthquakes detected in the Salton Sea last week raised concerns a large earthquake may soon strike parts of California. <br /> <br />The Salton Sea quakes temporarily raised the chances of a large earthquake occurring between 0.004 percent and one percent, reported the NBC Los Angeles. The chances of it happening are normally between 1 in 6,000. <br /> <br />In 2008, experts reportedly came up with a scenario — called the “Big One” — where the San Andreas fault would rupture and the ensuing 7.8 magnitude earthquake would claim 1,800 lives and wound 50,000 people. <br /> <br />The San Andreas fault hasn’t ruptured in over three centuries, and scientists say California is long overdue for a major quake, reported the Ventura County Star.
