Major Quake Jolts San Fernando Valley

The magnitude 6.7 San Fernando earthquake killed 61 people and injured more than 2,500. The temblor destroyed two hospitals, caused $550 million in damage and left the lower dam of the Van Norman Reservoir in a state of near collapse. Scientists feared that a major aftershock would finish off the dam, so 80,000 residents of the northern Valley were evacuated for three days as emergency pumps lowered the reservoir’s water level. No such aftershock occurred.