Study: Economy Could Topple When Major Quake Hits

A new study says a big Southern California earthquake would rattle the region’s economy as well as its buildings.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says a magnitude-7.8 quake would affect hundreds of thousands of businesses and millions of workers in Kern, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial counties.

San Diego County wasn’t included in the study.

Tuesday’s report doesn’t give a figure for the economic damage but a 2008 federal report estimated losses at well over $200 billion.

And the new report says the losses could ripple throughout the national economy.

Authorities say a large quake in the region is overdue and they urged businesses to have plans in place to deal with a quake disaster.