35 years: A look back at The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake
By Hamza Fahmy,
7 hours ago
( KRON ) – Exactly 35 years have passed since The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, a catastrophic disaster that killed 63 Bay Area residents and caused over $10 billion in damage to the state.
Here’s a look back at some of the details of the ‘89 quake and, more impressively, some of the hurdles the Bay Area we know today had to overcome to recover.
TOPSHOT – Search and rescue support workers Tim Schilwachder (L) and Mamdouch Shabaan embrace 21 October 1989 by the Cypress Structure above 28th and Cypress Sts, shortly after a man was rescued alive there. A powerful earthquake has rocked San Francisco 17 October killing nine people and injuring hundreds. The epicentre of the quake, which measured 6.9 on the Richter scale, is thought to have been Loma Prieta, 10 miles north of Santa Cruz on the San Andreas fault. AFP PHOTO CHRIS WILKINS (Photo by CHRIS WILKINS / AFP) (Photo by CHRIS WILKINS/AFP via Getty Images) What is Prop 36? A look into ‘The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act’
Despite being known for mainly affecting the Bay Area, the shake was named after being centered by the Loma Prieta Peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The quake had a reported magnitude of 6.9 at its peak.
Experts say the 89’ earthquake lasted approximately 20 seconds, with another magnitude 5.2 aftershock occurring less than three minutes later. Hundreds of aftershocks were recorded in the following week, according to the California Department of Conservation.
(Original Caption) San Francisco: A car is crushed under what is left of a home in San Francisco after an earthquake shoot the city 10/17.
Cars and Damaged Bridge After Earthquake
SAN FRANCISCO – OCTOBER 17: General view of debris after the earthquake, measuring 7.1 on the richter scale, rocks game three of the World Series between the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park on October 17, 1989 in San Francisco, California. Despite some discussion to cancel, baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent agrees to allow the series to continue. Play resumed October 25, and the A’s go on to sweep the Giants in four games. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images)
In total, 63 people were killed, 3,757 were reported injured, and over 12,000 residents were displaced, the CDC says.
Perhaps the most catastrophic event from the shake was the double deck catastrophe on the Cypress St. viaduct of Interstate Highway 880 in Oakland, where 42 victims died, with many more injured.
Coroner Officials wheel a bodybag with victim from the collapse of the elevated Cypress Structure freeway section of Interstate 880 from 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta Earthquake, October 18, 1989 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)
The Loma Prieta Earthquake was also known as the World Series Earthquake, as the quake happened during warmup practice right before the third game of the 89’ World Series.
(Original Caption) San Francisco: Giants’ Brett Butler leads his family off the Candlestick Park after an earthquake cancelled game 3 of the World Series.
SAN FRANCISCO – OCTOBER 1989: A young dejected baseball fan looks on after a postponement of the 1989 Major League Baseball World Series due to an earthquake circa October 1989 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images)
The game featured both Bay Area MLB teams– The Oakland A’s and SF Giants. The quake of ‘89 was also the first major earthquake that was broadcasted over due to sports broadcast schedules overlapping with the shake.
The World Series Earthquake mainly affected the San Francisco and Peninsula area but extended all the way to East Bay and even catalyzed a non-destructive tsunami for its South Bay neighbors in Monterey Bay.
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I remember that day like it happened yesterday..that was the most terrifying day..I was at McDonald's on Haight and stanyan..just has I begun to take my first step that's when the earthquake happened..it was such an hot gloomy day..all I were thinking about is getting to my kids..my daughter was at her great great auntie house helping her clean her house..my son was with my best friend also my landlord, I had to walk 2 miles to get to my kids in that hot sun..my landlord had a beautiful RV..we all had to live in it for 3 days because the front doors were jammed...
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