This week in history

April 18, 1906, an earthquake struck near San Francisco, the then largest city on the West Coast. The earthquake occurred offshore at an outcropping called Mussel Rock just after 5:00a.m. Tremors were felt from Oregon to Los Angeles. The land on the eastern side of San Andreas Fault, the city and bay, moved southward. The land on the west side of fault, was pushed northward. The displacement was more than six meters (20 feet).

The exact magnitude of the earthquake is disputed, most common estimate is about 7.9 – a very damaging event. Fires immediately broke out in San Francisco due to broken gas lines, fallen power lines, and lanterns that toppled over. It is estimated the more than 3,000 people were killed from the earthquake and the many aftershocks.