Videos: 'San Francisco 1906 Film: Before & After Earthquake [4K Colorized]'
The shock struck at 5:12 a.m., centering along the San Andreas Fault on the coast of Northern California. Buildings were shaken from their foundations, streets were torn apart, and water mains were shattered, leaving firefighters helpless as flames spread unchecked.
Videos: 'Archive footage: Survivors talk about 1906 quake'
Authorities estimate that more than 3,000 people have been killed and between 227,000 and 300,000 residents—more than half the city’s population of about 410,000—have been left homeless.
Entire blocks of the city lie in ashes. The heart of San Francisco’s commercial district has been largely destroyed, and fires continue to burn across the city, fed by ruptured gas lines and driven by strong winds.
Video: 'San Francisco Earthquake 1906 - Before and After Journey Down Market Street'
Military troops have been deployed to assist local authorities in maintaining order and aiding relief efforts. Refugee camps are being established in parks and open spaces as thousands flee the burning city with only the possessions they could carry.
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Initial estimates place property damage at more than $400 million ($10.4 billion in 2024 dollars), making the disaster one of the costliest in the nation’s history. Railroad lines, telegraph systems and roads throughout the region have been badly damaged, severely hampering communication with the outside world.
Videos: 'The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake | A Short Documentary | Fascinating Horror'
Officials described the earthquake as one of unprecedented force, with violent shaking lasting nearly a minute. Survivors reported being thrown from their beds as walls collapsed and chimneys crashed into the streets below.
Relief efforts are underway, but city leaders acknowledged that San Francisco faces a long and difficult recovery.
Videos: 'The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake'
