1906 San Francisco Earthquake

Devastating Natural Disaster Strikes California

Eyewitness Accounts and Timeline of Events

On April 18, 1906, at precisely 5:13 a.m., the bustling city of San Francisco was abruptly jolted awake by a colossal earthquake. The temblor, estimated to be between 7.8 and 8.3 on the Richter scale, sent shockwaves through the Bay Area, leaving an unimaginable trail of destruction and loss.

In the immediate aftermath, fires erupted throughout the city, fanned by high winds and fueled by ruptured gas lines. The inferno raged unchecked for three days, consuming entire neighborhoods and reducing iconic landmarks to rubble. The combined forces of the earthquake and the fires caused widespread devastation, leaving countless lives in the balance.

Eyewitness accounts describe the earthquake as a violent upheaval of the earth, with buildings swaying, foundations crumbling, and roads buckling. The city's infrastructure was severely compromised, with bridges collapsing and water and gas lines severed. As the chaos unfolded, residents fled their homes in terror, seeking safety in parks and open spaces.