The major shock lasted 10–20 seconds and registered a magnitude of 6.7. The magnitude 6.7 1994 Northridge earthquake was particularly destructive, causing a substantial number of deaths, injuries, and structural collapses as well as the most property damage of any earthquake in U.S. history at an estimated $20 billion. The fact that the quake occurred on a federal holiday (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) and in the early morning hours when most people were home in bed was critical in reducing the number of casualties. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. 1994: Massive earthquake hits Los Angeles A huge earthquake has rocked Los Angeles, killing more than 20 people. The top three costliest earthquakes in the world during 1980–2012 were the Mw 9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake (2011), Mw 6.8 Kobe earthquake (1995), and Mw 6.7 Northridge earthquake (1994), causing overall economic losses at the time of occurrence of about $210B, $100B, and $44B, respectively (III, 2015). Here are a … The Northridge quake, named after the San Fernando Valley community near its epicenter, was the costliest in U.S. history, with damages estimated at more than $20 billion, and resulted in 57 deaths. Most significantly, the state created the California Earthquake Authority, a publicly managed but privately funded organization offering basic residential earthquake insurance. Media in category "1994 Northridge earthquake" The following 24 files are in this category, out of 24 total. The magnitude 6.7 Northridge Earthquake occurred on January 17, 1994 at 4:31 AM, killing more than 60, injuring more than 9,000, and causing widespread damage … Most of the casualties occurred in wood-frame apartment buildings, popular in the San Fernando Valley, and particularly in those with weak first floors or lower-level parking garages. Did you know? Property damage was severe and widespread; although the worst damage was sustained by communities in the western and northern San Fernando Valley, other areas of Los Angeles county were affected, as were parts of Ventura, Orange, and San Bernardino counties. LOS ANGELES – The 1994 Northridge earthquake shook Los Angeles residents from their sleep, caused freeways to crumble and flattened buildings. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The hypocentral depth was 19 km. Mar 22, 2015 - On January 17, 1994, the Northridge Earthquake rocked the L.A. area causing billions in damage, thousands of injuries and 60 fatalities. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The Northridge earthquake of 1994 — A 64-car freight train carrying hazardous materials was derailed between the Chatsworth and Northridge sections of … Fires that broke out in the San Fernando Valley and in Venice and Malibu caused additional harm. Its epi­cen­ter was in Reseda, a neigh­bor­hood in the north-cen­tral Val­ley. The Northridge Earthquake resulted in considerable disruption to health care facilities over a wide area. At 4:30 a.m. on January 17, 1994, the shaking of an earthquake awakened 10 million people in the Los Angeles region of Southern California. The earthquake measured 6.7 on the Richter scale and caused extensive damage to buildings, utilities and roadways. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). After major earthquakes in both 1906 and 1989, the city retained its status as one of America’s most ...read more, Humans have been recording earthquakes for nearly 4,000 years. Periodic rumbles were nothing new to Alaskans—four out of every five U.S. earthquakes occur in the state—but the quake that struck at 5:36 p.m. local time on Good Friday was unlike any ...read more, San Francisco’s location along the San Andreas Fault means that the city is, and always will be, prone to earthquakes. The quake … © 2021 A&E Television Networks, LLC. Immediately after the earthquake, the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) deployed teams of structural engineers, fire marshals, and construction advisors to survey the approximately 750 state-licensed facilities in the affected area. Here are a … The duration was about 10 seconds to 20 seconds. During the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the Van Norman Complex yielded an unprecedented number of recordings with high acceleration, in the close proximity of the fault rupture. This earthquake had a 6.9 moment magnitude. The quake was caused by the sudden rupture of a previously undocumented blind thrust fault. On January 17, 1994, at 4:31 a.m. PST, a magnitude 6​.7 earthquake centered in Northridge struck the southern California area. The quake ruptured the San Andreas fault to the north and south of the city, for a total of 296 miles, and ...read more, On September 21, 1999, an earthquake in Taiwan killed more than 2,400 people, destroyed or damaged thousands of buildings and left an estimated 100,000 people homeless. Southern California has about 10,000 earthquakes every year, although most are so small they aren’t felt. 1 Three counties, Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange were affected by the But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Corrections? The Northridge earthquake occurred at 4:30 a.m. local time on January 17, 1994. ConclusionsThe 1994 Northridge earthquake is the sixth major earthquake in California to have occurred on a blind thrust fault in the last 10 years. Updates? It was the worst earthquake to hit Taiwan–where quakes are common due to its location in a seismically active ...read more, On October 17, 1989, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit the San Francisco Bay Area, killing 67 people and causing more than $5 billion in damages. The extent of the property damage in an area so well-prepared for earthquakes was staggering. Damage was widespread, as buildings, shopping centers, parking lots and portions of major freeways all collapsed. From the ones we know about, the deadliest by far happened in China in 1556 A.D. On January 23 of that year, a powerful quake rocked the province of Shaanxi as well as the neighboring province of Shanxi, killing an ...read more. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan) An approach ramp on California's Golden State Freeway leads nowhere after being broken by the January 17, 1994 earthquake. Omissions? Section of collapsed low-rise apartment buildings. A magnitude 6.8 (Ms) earthquake centered under the community of Northridge in the San Fernando Valley shook the entire Los Angeles metropolitan area at 4:31 a.m. local time on Monday, January 17, 1994. Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/event/Northridge-earthquake-of-1994, National Institute of Standards and Technology - Engineering Laboratory - Earthquake Northridge California 1994, Northridge earthquake of 1994 - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). The earthquake's epicenter was in Northridge, CA, and it was a magnitude 6.7 shock that proved to be the most costly earthquake in United States history. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. A look at events of the Jan. 17, 1994, Northridge earthquake By Jason Kandel • Published January 16, 2014 • Updated on January 17, 2018 at 7:52 am All Rights Reserved. At the Northridge Meadows apartment complex, 16 people were killed, all of whom lived on the first floor, when the three-story, stucco-and-wood structure fell down on them. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Interested in testing your earthquake knowledge? At 4:31 a.m. on January 17, 1994, a 6.7-magnitude quake struck the San Fernando Valley, a densely populated area of Los Angeles located 20 miles northwest of the city’s downtown. Dec 16, 2014 - On January 17, 1994, the Northridge Earthquake rocked the L.A. area causing billions in damage, thousands of injuries and 60 fatalities. Roads and bridges damaged by the Northridge earthquake in California, 1994. Its epicentre was in Northridge, a suburb located about 20 miles (32 km) west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The January 17, 1994 Northridge earthquake affected the art and practice of structural engineering probably more than any other earthquake in the recent history of our profession. The 6.7 magnitude Northridge earthquake shook the entire San Fernando Valley at 4:31 am on January 17, 1994, with an epicenter in Reseda, near Northridge, CA. Fatality estimates range from just under 60 to more than 70 people killed, with most studies placing the number at around 60. Northridge is located about 30 km northwest of Los Angeles. The 1994 Northridge earthquake was a ṃ of 6.7 (ṃ), blind thrust earthquake that occurred on January 17, 1994, at 4:30:55 a.m. PST in the San Fernando Valley region of the County of Los Angeles. Northridge earthquake of 1994, earthquake that struck the densely populated San Fernando Valley in southern California, U.S., on Jan. 17, 1994. The earthquake occurred just after 4:30 am local time along a previously undiscovered blind thrust fault in the San Fernando Valley. Latinos live in tents and cars outside their destroyed apartment buildings after the 1994 Northridge Earthquake in the Los Angeles area. Cal state northridge quake damage.jpg 1,018 × 704; 183 KB. Shake your way into this quiz. Most of Alaska’s mainland felt the magnitude 9.2 earthquake, which wobbled Seattle’s Space Needle some 1,200 miles ...read more, On October 8, 2005, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake shook the Kashmir region (a disputed territory controlled in part by Pakistan and India), along with sections of Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. 1994 Northridge Earthquake Hasn't Stopped, Hills Have Risen Dec 17, 1996 Earthquake researchers measuring the movement of the Earth's surface with the Global Positioning System (GPS) have concluded that the Northridge earthquake has continued in a "quiet" way and the Granada Hills have risen about 16 centimeters (about 6 inches) since that first jolt in January 1994. The 1994 Northridge earthquake caused $400 million in damage to the campus, the heaviest damage ever sustained by an American college campus. Known as the Northridge Earthquake, it caused at least 57 fatalities (a subsequent study put the death toll at 72, including heart attacks) and injured thousands. Another important factor was that the building and safety codes in Los Angeles had been strengthened following a powerful quake in the San Fernando Valley in 1971 (also called the Sylmar Earthquake). Accordingly, a number of legislative changes were made in the aftermath of the Northridge earthquake. 1994 Northridge earthquake.svg 618 × 343; 1.32 MB. The third major earthquake to occur in the state in 23 years (after the 1971 San Fernando Valley and 1989 San Francisco–Oakland earthquakes), the Northridge earthquake was the state’s most destructive one since the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and the costliest one in U.S. history. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. It is also Los Angeles. The 1994 North­ridge earthquake was a mag­ni­tude of 6.7 ( Mw ), blind thrust earth­quake which oc­curred on Jan­u­ary 17 at 4:30:55 a.m. PST in the San Fer­nando Val­ley re­gion of the County of Los An­ge­les. Moderate damage to the built environment was widespread; severe damage included collapsed buildings and highway overpasses. The percentage of buildings completely destroyed was relatively low in light of the strength of the ground motions. Las Vegas A motorcycle police officer died when his vehicle plunged off of a just-collapsed section of freeway. The 1994 Northridge earthquake struck at 4:31 a.m. on January 17 and measured 6.7 on the moment magnitude scale. Nevertheless, tens of thousands of buildings were damaged, with many “red-tagged” as unsafe to enter and many more restricted to limited entry (“yellow-tagged”). The Northridge earthquake that struck at 4.31 a.m. on Monday, January 17, 1994 affected an area of 2,192 square miles in the San Fernando Valley, a densely populated residential area of northern Los Angeles, California. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. Its epicenter was in Reseda, a neighborhood in the north-central Valley. Find link is a tool written by Edward Betts.. searching for 1994 Northridge earthquake 29 found (271 total) Jim Berkland (2,275 words) case mismatch in snippet view article find links to article predict earthquakes, including the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and 1994 Northridge Earthquake and who popularized the idea that some people are earthquake sensitive Shake Map Northridge 1994.jpg 612 × 718; 114 KB. At least 57 people perished, while thousands more were injured. More than 80,000 people perished as a result of the quake, while an estimated 4 million ...read more, The powerful earthquake killed more than 10,000 and left another 30,000 others injured and as many as a quarter of a million people homeless. The earthquake occurred beneath Northridge, a suburb in the San Fernando Valley, 30 km northwest of Los Angeles (see map on next page). Northridge earthquake of 1994, earthquake that struck the densely populated San Fernando Valley in southern California, U.S., on Jan. 17, 1994. Following the Northridge disaster, which was responsible for estimated damages in excess of $20 billion, the majority of insurance companies representing homeowners in California severely restricted–or completely stopped offering—new policies because the law required them to also offer earthquake coverage. The Northridge earthquake struck Los Angeles on 17 January 1994, origthadng from a previously unknown thrust fault. At 4:31 a.m. on January 17, 1994, a 6.7-magnitude quake struck the San Fernando Valley, a densely populated area of Los Angeles located 20 miles northwest of the city’s downtown. It is true that the 1933 Long Beach earthquake resulted in the Field’s act and more stringent design of school buildings. The destructive 1994 quake in Northridge, California, was caused by a previously undiscovered blind thrust fault. A strong earthquake shook the Los Angeles region on January 17, 1994, at 4:30 am Pacific Standard Time (12:30 UT). On April 18, 1906, an earthquake and subsequent fires devastated San Francisco, California, leaving more than 3,000 people dead and destroying more than 28,000 buildings. This report describes injuries occurring in the Northridge earthquake which resulted in death or hospital admission. In response, the state created the California Earthquake Authority as a publicly managed, primarily privately funded organization providing basic residential earthquake coverage. USGS Response to an Urban Earthquake - Northridge 1994 (Summary) Sixty people were killed, more than 7,000 injured, 20,000 homeless and more than 40,000 buildings damaged in Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange and San Bernardino Counties as a result of the Northridge earthquake of January 17, 1994. A significant portion of the transportation system around Los Angeles was shut down, as sections of major freeways (including the Santa Monica Freeway and the Golden State Freeway) collapsed and numerous bridges sustained heavy damage. The timing of the earthquake (early morning during a federal holiday) is thought to have prevented a higher death toll, as most residents were in their beds, rather than on failed freeways or in other collapsed structures (such as office buildings or parking lots). The earthquake was magnitude 6.7 on a previously unidentified thrust fault, creating strong horizontal and vertical ground motion lasting up to 10 seconds. It is now widely accepted that these types of faults can pose major seismic threats. Despite the fact that the disaster was one of the most powerful and destructive quakes ever to hit a populated area of the United States, ...read more, The 1964 Alaska earthquake, the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America, struck Alaska’s Prince William Sound, about 74 miles southeast of Anchorage. https://www.history.com/topics/natural-disasters-and-environment/1994-northridge-earthquake. At around 7:19 a.m. on September 19, 1985, Mexico City, one of the world’s largest urban areas, was jolted by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake, ...read more, [slideshow]As the sunlight waned on March 27, 1964, Alaska’s frozen ground shivered violently. "On Shaky Ground": Living Through the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. The earthquake, which measured 6.6 on the Richter scale and lasted for 40 seconds, struck at 0431 local time (1231 GMT). But that doesn’t have to mean it’s prone to devastation. 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