Significant earthquakes of 1987

October 1, 1987 Earthquake: Whittier, California, United States

October 1, 1987 · M5.7 · 8 deaths · $358 million

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Whittier, California, United States on October 1, 1987 at 14:42:20 UTC, 10 km below the surface. It killed 8 people.

Map

Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.

The earthquake

Date
October 1, 1987
Time
14:42:20 UTC
Place
Whittier, California, United States
Magnitude
5.7 (Ms)
Focal depth
10 km (6 mi)
Intensity
8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami
None recorded
Epicenter
34.061° N, 118.078° W

The toll

Deaths
8
Injuries
200
Damage
$358 million

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

The Whittier Narrows earthquake caused eight fatalities, injured several hundred, and left property damage estimated at $358 million in the east Los Angeles area, mainly at Whittier. MM intensity VII to VIII covered an area of about 500 km2 from Monrovia and Pasadena in the north to beyond Whittier in the southeast. MM intensity VI was asigned to an additional area of 1,500 km2. The main shock was followed by about 500 locatable aftershocks, an unusually small number for an earthquake of this magnitude. The largest aftershock, which occurred on Oct. 4 about 3 km northwest of the epicenter of the main shock caused further damage to weakened buildings. (reference #542)

Photos

From the NCEI/WDS Natural Hazards Image Database (doi:10.7289/V5154F01). Only photos by the USGS and NOAA, which are public domain, are shown.

Partial Collapse of Store in 1987 Whittier, CA
Partial Collapse of Store in 1987 Whittier, CA Partial collapse of the back wall of thrift store located on Main Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets in Alhambra. Falling bricks crushed cars parked in the street. Photo: G. Reagor, U.S. Geological Survey.
Exterior View of Damaged Residence, Whittier, CA
Exterior View of Damaged Residence, Whittier, CA Exterior view (left) of badly damaged brick residence in the 5000 block of Bright Street in North Whittier. Interior view on right shows cracks extending through the outside wall of structure. Photo: G. Reagor, U.S. Geological Survey.
Porch column tipped when house shifted on foundation
Porch column tipped when house shifted on foundation The 1987 Whittier (California) earthquake caused many houses to shift on their foundations. This house at 13312 Beverly Boulevard between Painter Avenue and Friends Street has shifted at least a foot on its foundation. The shifting has caused the wooden column to be tipped off its base. Further shifting would have resulted in a column and porch collapse. Photo: G. Reagor, U.S. Geological Survey.
Two Views of Auditorium Showing Damage
Two Views of Auditorium Showing Damage Left: San Gabriel Civic Auditorium after main shock and before large aftershock. Note cracks near bell tower. Right: The same structure showing damage that occurred during large aftershock. The bell tower that was weakened by the main shock has fallen, and the exterior of building is damaged. Photo: G. Reagor, U.S. Geological Survey.
Shift of Apartment Building in 1987 Whittier, CA
Shift of Apartment Building in 1987 Whittier, CA The Garvey West Apartment building in Monterey Park at Monterey Pass Road in Garvey shifted about 10 inches to the east on its foundation. Shown here is the southeast corner of the building. Photo: G. Reagor, U.S. Geological Survey.
Partial Collapse of Parking Garage, Whittier, CA
Partial Collapse of Parking Garage, Whittier, CA Partial collapse of the May Company's three-level parking garage at Quad Shopping Mall in Whittier. The structure, built in 1965, is located at the corner of Whittier Blvd. and Painter Ave. Photo: G. Reagor, U.S. Geological Survey.
Interior View of Damaged Residence, Whittier, CA
Interior View of Damaged Residence, Whittier, CA Collapse of chimney through roof of above residence and onto bed of four-year old boy who was rescued and hospitalized with broken collar bone. Photo: G. Reagor, U.S. Geological Survey.
Collapse of Wall of Store
Collapse of Wall of Store Collapse of wall of second story of Art's Jewelry and Loan establishment on Greenleaf Avenue in Uptown" Whittier. This older section in north Whittier sustained serious damage. At least 200 residences and 30 businesses were badly damaged and most of the severe damage was to structures built before 1930. Photo: G. Reagor, U.S. Geological Survey.

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1987The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1987Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history

Sources

Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 5143.