Klamath Falls earthquakes, September 20, 1993 — Including the strongest quake ever measured in Oregon

Oregon Geology
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

Earthquakes struck the Klamath Falls area on Monday night, September 20, 1993, resulting in two deaths and extensive damage. The quakes were felt as far away as Coos Bay to the west, Eugene to the north, Lakeview to the east, and Chico, California, to the south.

A foreshock recorded at 8:16 p.m. had a Richter magnitude of 3.9. The first of two main shocks, measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale, rumbled through Klamath Falls at 8:28 p.m. Following 16 smaller jolts with magnitudes between 2.2 and 3.8, the largest quake struck at 10:45 p.m. This earthquake, measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale, is the largest to hit Oregon since the 1873 Port Orford/Crescent City earthquake (Jacobson, 1986). Oregon has been shaken by stronger quakes, but those quakes originated beneath the Pacific Ocean west of Port Orford.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Klamath Falls earthquakes, September 20, 1993 — Including the strongest quake ever measured in Oregon
Series title Oregon Geology
Volume 55
Issue 6
Year Published 1993
Language English
Publisher Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
Contributing office(s) Geologic Hazards Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Volcano Science Center
Description 8 p.
First page 127
Last page 134
Country United States
State California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington
City Klamath Falls
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details