Bay Area marks 35 years since the Loma Prieta earthquake
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On Oct. 17 35 years ago, a 6.9-magnitude quake tore through the Bay Area, killing 63 people and injuring over 3,700.
The big picture: The Loma Prieta earthquake was centered in Santa Cruz County on a section of the San Andreas fault. Its ripple effects were broadcast live Oct. 17, 1989 because of the World Series, which saw the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's face off in Candlestick Park.
Flashback: Several of the Bay Area's major transportation structures collapsed amid ground failures and landslides, with the double-deck Nimitz Freeway in Oakland becoming the site of the largest number of casualties.
- Damage to San Francisco's Marina District also led to liquefaction, in which sediment takes the form of a fluid-like state due to shaking. The liquefied sand was under such pressure that it erupted through the ground surface.
- Similar impacts were felt in East Bay and near Monterey Bay, where a non-destructive tsunami was observed.
Zoom out: The earthquake renewed the urgency of seismic retrofitting, from bridges and freeways to schools and parks.
- California homeowners can now apply for up to $13,000 to retrofit some single-family homes.
What to watch: Phones in California will buzz with an earthquake warning at 10:17am Thursday as part of the annual ShakeAlert system test to coincide with the anniversary.
- BART trains will also conduct an earthquake drill at 10:17am.
What they're saying: "The anniversary dates of devastating earthquakes are reminders that we live in earthquake country," Christine Goulet, earthquake science center director at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said in a news release.
- The USGS is encouraging people to share their experience of the Loma Prieta earthquake using its "Did you feel it?" reporting tool.
- "While 1989 was long time ago, we still see the value of collecting the population's input from their experience at the time," Goulet said. "This will support better knowledge and preparedness plans."