The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) predicts that a magnitude 7.8 earthquake along the San Andreas Fault would have devastating consequences for Southern California, including the deaths of 1,800 people and damages costing around 200 billion U.S. dollars, according to a USGS study published on Thursday.
It said the earthquake would rattle 10 million residents, about50,000 of whom would be injured.
Older buildings that are not retrofitted would be destroyed and result in 33 billion dollars in damages, according to the survey.
"What I see is a remarkably resilient community where the numbers we see -- about 1,800 dead and 213 billion dollars in damages -- reflects a commitment of California for the last 75 years to life-saving mitigation," said Lucy Jones, a seismologist with the USGS.
"At the same time, with 213 billion dollars in losses, we can see that our concentration on life-safety rather than on full-functionality has built in a significant financial and economic vulnerability."
Around the region, 1,600 fires would be set off -- some large enough to consume hundreds of city blocks. Assuming that there are no Santa Ana winds, the fires would create 65 billion dollars in direct losses and 22 billion dollars in indirect damages, the study finds.
In the event of a major earthquake, fires would likely merge together because of a "disruption to our water mains and difficulty getting water pressure, and no power for our traffic lights and roads so that fire engines will have difficulty getting to some of the fires," Jones said.
The report assumes that the earthquake begins near the Salton Sea and creates the most shaking and damage in the Coachella Valley, Inland Empire and Antelope Valley. Strong shaking would occur in downtown Los Angeles for 55 seconds -- eight times longer than the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
Pipelines, power lines, roads, railways and aqueducts in the region would be disrupted, according to the study.
The region's water systems would suffer major damage in a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Some buildings could be without water for as long as six months, and cost the region 50 billion dollars, the study says.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said the report is a reminder that residents should be prepared for major disasters. The 10 essential items in an emergency kit are water, food, cash and important documents, clothes, a flashlight, First Aid kit, medicine, a radio, toiletries and tools.
"This report is a serious reminder that it is important to be ready for earthquakes or other natural disasters. For Los Angeles County, the question is not if an earthquake will hit, but when," said Jonathan Fielding, director of the Department of Public Health.
The USGS reported recently that California has a 46 percent chance of experiencing a magnitude 3.7 or larger quake in the next 30 years.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article