A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck approximately 10 miles northeast of Santa Cruz, CA, near Loma Prieta peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains (approximately 60 south southeast of San Francisco). Due to the sports coverage of the 1989 World Series, it became the first major earthquake in the United States that was broadcast live on national television. It was the largest earthquake to occur on the San Andreas fault since the great San Francisco earthquake in April 1906.—(USGS)
Date of event: October 17, 1989
Impact:
- 63 fatalities
- 3,757 injuries
- Estimated Cost: $10 billion
Related Resources:
- Practical Lessons from the Loma Prieta Earthquake
- Loma Prieta, California, Earthquake of October 17, 1989 Geologic Setting and Crustal Structure
HSDL In Focus: Earthquakes
HSDL Search Results: Loma Prieta
Photo: Pacific Garden Mall, Santa Cruz, CA after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. (Credit: C.E. Meyer, U.S. Geological Survey)