United States: Scientists say fault line could cause huge tremors
Scientists have discovered an earthquake fault line beneath Los Angeles, and believe it is capable of causing tremors 15 times as strong as the earthquake that damaged the city in 1994.
The Independent newspaper, reporting on a study in the Science magazine, says the fault line is capable of creating quakes measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale; many skyscrapers in the city are designed only to resist quakes measuring five or less.
Scientists say the Puente Hills fault differs from many others in that it does not produce small quakes but “saves up” its tremors for up to 3,000 years. They say the find is “very, very disturbing” and is advising that the city’s authorities will need to pay close attention to buildings in the downtown area.
The 1994 quake, which measured 6.7 on the Richter scale, killed some 57 people and caused more than £25 billion worth of damage.
