Scientists: San Andreas Fault Long Overdue For Major Earthquake
LOS ANGELES (CBS) -- The San Andreas Fault is long overdue for a major quake. Scientists are warning residents, particularly in Southern California, to do more to prepare.
A computer simulation shown at the National Earthquake Conference this week showed the widespread effect such a large quake that hits the San Andreas Fault could have, reaching from Central California to the Mexican border, CBS Los Angeles reported. Scientists say that long overdue earthquake could be as big as a magnitude 8 that could shake for as long as two minutes.
• PHOTOS: Archival Photos Of The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
In such a scenario, experts believe as many as 1,800 people could be killed, 50,000 injured and more than $200 billion caused in damage.
The San Andreas Fault is known for several major earthquakes in California history. A magnitude 7.8 that struck San Francisco in 1906 killed 3,000 people and triggered a massive fire that destroyed much of the city. In 1989, the magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake killed 63 people and caused major damage throughout the Bay Area.
The largest earthquake on record to hit the San Andreas Fault in the last 200 years was a magnitude 7.9 that struck Central California in 1857.
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