Video: 'San Fernando Valley Sylmar Earthquake (1971)'

(Tuesday, February 9, 1971, 6:00:41 a.m. PST; during the 1971 San Fernando earthquake) — A major earthquake rumbled through southern California early today with a strong ground motion duration of about 12 seconds, killing 65 people, injuring another 2,000 and causing more than a half billion dollars in damage to homes, businesses and roadways in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.

Video: 'NBC - Sylmar earthquake - 1971-02-09'

Centered near Newhall, 40 miles north of Los Angeles, the unanticipated thrust earthquake had a magnitude of 6.5 on the Ms scale, and a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme).

It was felt in Fresno, 200 miles to the north; at the Mexican border, 130 miles to the south, and in Las Vegas, 225 miles to the northeast.

Video: 'Footage of Destruction in the Aftermath of the 1971 Sylmar Earthquake | From the Archives | NBCLA'

Thousands of residents threw clothing and food into their cars and tried to leave the area, but gargantuan traffic jams slowed their progress.

It was one in a series that affected the Los Angeles area in the late 20th century.