Bay Area Earthquake Warning

San Francisco, CA — If an earthquake like the one that devastated San Francisco in 1906 struck today, a new study estimates the toll would be staggering.

The report calculates that a repeat of that 7.9 magnitude temblor would cause 1800 to 3400 deaths. More than 90,000 buildings would be damaged, and as many as a quarter of a million households would be displaced. The price tag on the destruction; $150 billion. The study was commissioned for a three-day conference beginning Tuesday to commemorate the quake and promote preparedness for the next Big One.

Experts say the Bay Area has made a lot of progress strengthening buildings, roads and bridges since the 1989 Loma Prieta quake. But they also say the study´s findings show the region still has a great deal of work to do.

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