1994 Northridge, California Earthquake
Northridge, Los Angeles, California — January 17, 1994
The 1994 Northridge earthquake caused $44 billion in damage, making it one of the costliest natural disasters in United States history at the time. Freeway collapses, apartment building failures, and fires demonstrated critical vulnerabilities in Los Angeles' built environment and prompted major seismic retrofitting programs.
Earthquake Facts
Magnitude
M6.7
Date
Jan 17, 1994
Depth
18.4 km
Deaths
57
Latitude
34.213°
Longitude
-118.537°
Tsunami
No
Region
Northridge, California
Tectonic Cause
Blind thrust fault beneath the San Fernando Valley, with no surface expression visible before the earthquake. The fault was undetected until it ruptured, revealing a hidden seismic hazard beneath the urban area.
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Sources & Further Reading
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