History of Big Earthquakes

Northridge, California (20 miles from Los Angeles)
January 17, 1994
4:31 a.m.
Magnitude: 6.7
Deaths: 57
Injuries: 9,000
Property Damage: $15 billion

Loma Prieta Earthquake (south of San Francisco)
October 17, 1989
5:04 p.m.
Magnitude: 6.9
Length of time: 15 seconds
Deaths: 62
Injuries: 3,757
Property Damage: More than $6 billion

Coalinga, CA
May 2, 1983
Magnitude: 6.4
Deaths: 0
Injuries: 47
Property damage: $31 million

San Francisco, CA
April 18, 1906
5:12 a.m.
Magnitude: 8.25
Length of time: 40 seconds
Deaths: 700 to 2,500 people
Note: The "Great San Francisco Earthquake" is one of the strongest ever recorded in North America. Much of the city was destroyed by the strong shaking, which toppled buildings, and by the fires that followed.

Information courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey