Alert Raised! 200 Quakes Hit California; More Big Quakes to Come

State officials have raised the alert level in California after 200 tremors that started inside the Salton Sea have occurred in just 24 hours earlier this week.

In a statement, Governor's Office of Emergency Services announced that more earthquakes could come in the next few days and they are estimated to be stronger and bigger than 4.3 magnitude.

According to LA Times, the quakes happened in one of California's most seismically complex areas, just south of where the forceful San Andreas fault ends. The series of quakes could have added stress to the San Andreas fault. Hence, the council fears that the slumbering San Andreas fault might be awakened anytime.

The earthquake swarm has significantly increased the chance of another quake in the next few days, seismologists note. And although the chance of the swarm of quakes setting off a big one is small, it is still possible. Thus, everyone should be alert.

"Any time there is significant seismic activity in the vicinity of the San Andreas fault, we seismologists get nervous because we recognize that the probability of having a large earthquake goes up," said Thomas H. Jordan, director of the Southern California Earthquake Center.

Advisory posted on the website of California ordered the residents advises in Ventura, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, Kern and Imperial counties-all along the southern section of the San Andreas Fault-to be prepared, San Francisco Gate reported.

"California is earthquake country. We must always be prepared and not let our guard down," said Director Mark Ghilarducci in a statement.

"The threat of an earthquake on the San Andreas Fault hasn't gone away, so this is another important opportunity for us to revisit our emergency plans and learn what steps you need to take if a significant earthquake hits."