California ‘BIG ONE’ earthquake killing THOUSANDS and costing billions could hit TOMORROW
A DREADED “big one” earthquake is so long overdue in California it could strike “anywhere” in the state as soon as tomorrow, leading scientists have alarmingly warned.
By Joshua Nevett
DailyStar.co.uk
21st October 2017
California has not been struck by a magnitude 7 or greater earthquake since a colossal rupture in the San Andreas Fault laid waste to San Francisco in 1906.
The massive magnitude 7.8 earthquake reduced buildings to rubble in less than a minute, killing around 7,500 people and destroying 80% of the city.
Experts believe there is a 70% chance a tremor on a similar scale will strike the Bay Area of San Francisco within the next 30 years.
Seismologist Peggy Hellweg, from the University of California, has told Daily Star Online that the region is not prepared to deal with the fallout from such an earthquake.
She said that a magnitude 7 or greater earthquake could kill “tens of thousands of people”.
In financial terms, such a quake would likely cause “tens to hundreds of billions of dollars in damage”, she said.
She said: “A magnitude 7 or greater earthquake can happen any time, almost anywhere in the state.
“I don’t expect one to happen tomorrow, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it did.”
California is making preparations for a large earthquake by investing in warning systems and holding drills across the state.
Earlier this week millions of Californians took part in annual “Great ShakeOut” earthquake drills to prepare for a catastrophic quake that experts say is “inevitable”.
The San Andreas and Hayward faults are thought to be particularly at risk of rupturing.
Hellweg believes that these fault lines need to be monitored 24 hours a day by “many more seismic and geodetic stations” to avoid a deadly calamity.
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