Significant earthquakes of 1989

October 18, 1989 Earthquake: Loma Prieta, California, United States

October 18, 1989 · M6.9 · 62 deaths · $5.6 billion

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Loma Prieta, California, United States on October 18, 1989 at 00:04:15 UTC, 19 km below the surface. It killed 62 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 18, 1989
Time
00:04:15 UTC
Place
Loma Prieta, California, United States
Magnitude
6.9 (Mw)
Focal depth
19 km (12 mi)
Intensity
9 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Epicenter
37.036° N, 121.883° W

The toll

Deaths
62
Injuries
3,757
Damage
$5.6 billion
Houses destroyed
Many (101 to 1,000)

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.

Reference #1250 (EM-DAT) lists $12 billion damage, 62 killed, 2500 injured.

Reference #1053 (USGS PDE) lists $5.6 billion damage, 62 killed, 3757 injured, maximum intensity IX in parts of Oakland and San Francisco. Numerous landslides occurred in the epicentral area and liquefaction occurred in some areas of Oakland and San Francisco.

Reference #1289 lists $6 billion damage, 63 killed, 3737 injured.

An earthquake on the San Andreas system with its epicenter near Loma Prieta about 15 km northeast of Santa Cruz caused extensive damage in the area and in San Francisco. It also generated a small tsunami or tsunamis in Monterey Bay with a maximum recorded amplitude of about 15.7 inches.

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.

Collapsed Home, Boulder Creek, California
Collapsed Home, Boulder Creek, California Partially collapsed home in the 700 block of Rebecca Drive, Boulder Creek, California. Note ground cracking around the house. Photo: C. Stover, U.S. Geological Survey.
Damage to Home in Boulder Creek, California
Damage to Home in Boulder Creek, California Damage to a home on Blue Ridge Drive in Boulder Creek, California. Photo: C. Stover, U.S. Geological Survey.
Landslide, Scott's Valley, California
Landslide, Scott's Valley, California Small landslide on Bean Creek Road approximately 1.6 km north of Scott's Valley, California. View is looking north. This landslide is typical of thousands of landslides in the epicentral area. Photo: C. Stover, U.S. Geological Survey.
House Damage, Santa Cruz Mountains, California
House Damage, Santa Cruz Mountains, California Damage to a house on Bay View in Redwood Estates off Highway 17 in the Santa Cruz mountains. Many homes collapsed in the Santa Cruz mountains. Photo: C. Stover, U.S. Geological Survey.
Major Damage to 90-year-old Home, Los Gatos, California
Major Damage to 90-year-old Home, Los Gatos, California This early 1900s wooden residence in Los Gatos sustained major damage when it moved off its foundation. Many houses that were not bolted to their foundations partially collapsed. The area bounded by Los Gatos Boulevard on the east and Highway 17 on the west in Los Gatos experienced ground cracking and compressional deformation. Photo: E.V. Leyendecker, U.S. Geological Survey.
Damage to Parapet and Arch, Bike Shop, Los Gatos, California
Damage to Parapet and Arch, Bike Shop, Los Gatos, California Damage to parapet and arch of the Los Gatos Bike Shop, Los Gatos. Other masonry buildings in downtown Los Gatos sustained major damage. Many other buildings showed few external signs of severe structural distress, although windows were shattered throughout the downtown area. Photo: Lindie Brewer, U.S. Geological Survey.
Damage to Parapet, Downtown Liquors, San Jose, California
Damage to Parapet, Downtown Liquors, San Jose, California Damage to parapet and upper story of Downtown Liquors, Third and San Fernando in San Jose. Unreinforced masonry buildings typically sustain this type of damage. Photo: C. Stover, U.S. Geological Survey.
Damage to Masonry Building, San Jose, California
Damage to Masonry Building, San Jose, California Second view of damage to the masonry building at Third and San Fernando in San Jose. Photo: C. Stover, U.S. Geological Survey.
Facade Cracking, San Jose, California
Facade Cracking, San Jose, California Cracking of exterior facade on office building at North First and Santa Clara Street, San Jose, California. Photo: C. Stover, U.S. Geological Survey.
Fissures, Santa Cruz Mountains, California
Fissures, Santa Cruz Mountains, California Photo shows depth of fissures on the San Andreas Highland Way approximately 3.2 km southeast of Loma Prieta in the Santa Cruz mountains. Photo: C. Stover, U.S. Geological Survey.
Fissure on San Andreas Summit Road, Santa Cruz, California
Fissure on San Andreas Summit Road, Santa Cruz, California Photo shows a fissure on San Andreas Summit Road approximately 0.8 km southeast of Highway 17. Both Summit Road and Highway 17 were heavily damaged by cracks and landslides. Photo: C. Stover, U.S. Geological Survey.
Damage to Church, Santa Cruz Mountains, California
Damage to Church, Santa Cruz Mountains, California Damaged roof and porch of Skyland Community Church, Skyland and Miller Road in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The wooden structure sustained severe damage. Photo: C. Stover, U.S. Geological Survey.

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1989The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1989Recent 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 5213.