Brick buildings and wooden Victorian structures were particularly devastated by the Earthquake on April 19, 1906 in San Francisco.
San Francisco earthquake (File Photo)
America has faced more than one powerful earthquake. But on this day, the earthquake in 1906 is considered to be one of the most terrible disasters ever. On April 19, 1906, an earthquake in San Francisco, USA, killed more than three thousand people. How powerful this earthquake was, it can be gauged that its magnitude was 8.0 on the Richter scale. Many buildings in San Francisco collapsed due to the earthquake and hundreds of people died after being hit by it.
San Francisco’s brick buildings and wooden Victorian structures were particularly devastated by the earthquake. Due to the earthquake, there was a fire in many places in the city. Trouble also increased because the water pipes were broken, due to which firemen had to face shortage for water. At the same time, due to the delay in extinguishing the fire, the fire started its orgy in many places in the city. No American city, including San Francisco, had seen such a terrible scene yet.
Order to shoot soldiers given to stop looting
American troops were employed to extinguish the fire and evacuate people safely. At the same time, due to the collapse of buildings and shops, the risk of looting was also increased. In such a situation, the then Mayor of the city E.E. Schmitz announced curfew from morning till evening. Also, ordered the soldiers to shoot anyone who saw them while committing the robbery. The fire devastated areas such as the business sector, Russian Hill, Chinatown, North Beach and Telegraph Hill on Montgomery Street.
28 thousand buildings destroyed
The fire continued to wreak havoc in San Francisco for four days. However, the subsequent rains served to extinguish it. Due to the fire, the 500 blocks of the city’s city center, which covered a four-square-km radius, were completely turned to ashes. Around 28,000 buildings were severely devastated by the earthquake and fire. It was reported that in total there was a loss of $ 350 million due to this disaster. American soldiers worked to evacuate large numbers of stranded people.
2.5 lakh people become homeless
The fire of the city was extinguished and the authorities started the work of rebuilding it. It was estimated that three thousand people died due to the Great San Francisco earthquake and devastating fire. The city center had disappeared and the city was deserted. Due to this disaster, about 2.5 lakhs became homeless. People who survived the earthquake and fire incident were given shelter in Golden Gate Park.
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