Fire fighters attend a commemoration event for the 30th Anniversary of the 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta Earthquake in San Francisco, the United States, Oct. 17, 2019. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua)
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Officials and residents of the Bay Area marked the 30th anniversary of a major earthquake on Thursday with a special ceremony and a community education program.
On Oct. 17, 1989, the 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake struck the city at 5:04 p.m. (0004 GMT), killing 63 people and injuring more than 3,700 others.
At a commemoration ceremony, San Francisco Mayor London Breed said the city has become more resilient today. "We've come a long way," she said, noting that many buildings in the city now meet seismic standards.
"Over the years, we have really worked hard to build communities where neighbors know what to do when they look out for one another" under emergency conditions, she added.
Meanwhile, a fair was held to raise disaster preparedness among local residents and visitors, providing emergency kits and contingency plans for possible quakes.
An earthquake simulator parking invited visitors to undergo "a real experience" of a magnitude 7 tremor that jolted for 15 seconds, crashing the walls, shaking the lights and overturning bookshelves inside "a house."
Just a few days ago, a series of quakes ranging from 3.5 to 4.7 magnitude rattled the city.
