Even though fault rupture extends beneath this structure, it did not collapse during the 1971 San Fernando earthquake. The garage, however, with the large opening in the front, did yield to the horizontal shaking. Photo by R. Castle, courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey. Masonry structures with little or no reinforcement, such as those in the Coalinga business district, usually sustain the greatest damage during an earthquake. Photo by James Stratta.
Arabic numerals represent intensities at specific locations.
Squares denote towns labeled in the figure. It is difficult to compare magnitude and intensity because intensity is linked with the particular ground and structural conditions of a given area, as well as distance from the earthquake epicenter, while magnitude depends on the energy released by earthquake faulting. I Not felt except by a very few under especially favorable circumstances. II Felt only be a few persons at rest, especially on upper floors of buildings. Delicately suspended objects may swing.