Which major earthquake resulted in 57 deaths and $40 billion in property damage, leading to seismic upgrades to the 1997 UBC?

The Northridge earthquake, which occurred on January 17, 1994, is well-known for its devastating impact, resulting in 57 deaths and over $40 billion in property damage. This significant event highlighted vulnerabilities within existing infrastructure and led to a profound reassessment of seismic building codes. In particular, the severity of the damage prompted revisions to the Uniform Building Code (UBC) in 1997, which aimed to enhance construction standards for earthquake resilience throughout California.

The Northridge earthquake was particularly impactful due to its high magnitude (6.7) and the fact that it struck a densely populated area. The extensive economic losses spurred governmental and regulatory bodies to implement seismic upgrades, influencing how buildings were designed and constructed in earthquake-prone regions. These upgrades were crucial in improving the safety and stability of structures, ensuring better preparedness for future seismic events.

The other earthquakes mentioned may have had significant impacts as well but did not trigger the same level of change in building codes as Northridge did. For example, the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, although destructive, did not result in the same level of immediate modifications to the building codes as seen after Northridge.