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Chilling photos of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and fires set the city ablaze
The 1906 earthquake struck San Francisco with a rough magnitude of 7.9 and ranks as one of the most significant earthquakes of all time, because of its severity and the damage it caused.
Massive fires followed the earthquake and swallowed entire city blocks whole. The tremors broke the city's water mains, making it nearly impossible for firefighters to quell the blaze.
Source: HISTORY
The fires burned for several days and decimated some 500 city blocks. Half of San Francisco's population — roughly 250,000 people — was left homeless.
Source: National Archives and HISTORY
Most residents escaped the fires with just the clothes on their back. The rich and the poor alike were hungry, thirsty, filthy, and distressed — unable to contact their families.
An Army general based in San Francisco later wrote that the city had "in forty-eight hours, not only been relegated to conditions of primitive life, but were also hampered by ruins and debris."
Source: Earthquake in California
The public desperately needed drinking water, so engineers began working on a backup system on day one. The US Navy brought water and milk on ships.
Relief stations were also set up by the US Navy and Army to distribute blankets, tents, and food. Here we see soldiers giving handouts in Jackson Square Park.
Refugees waited in long lines for bread. Cooking indoors was forbidden to help mitigate the risk of spreading fires.
Source: National Archives
Looting became an issue. People ran into burning buildings and rummaged through the rubble.
Source: National Archives
People took shelter in tents and small wooden cottages, which became known as "earthquake shacks," in city parks and in the Presidio. Meanwhile, aid flowed in from around the world.
Source: National Archives
Surprisingly, San Francisco bounced back quickly. The wipeout gave city planners an opportunity to build better, safer infrastructure.
Source: HISTORY
The earthquake of 1906 remains the most devastating disaster San Francisco has ever seen.
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