Simulated Los Angeles Earthquake Damage Study

A new study released in the Los Angeles times describes a scenario simulating a 6.6 earthquake on the Santa Monica fault estimated that 54,000 buildings could be damaged, including 85 beyond repair. Under the scenario, a quake on the fault could kill as many as 30 people and force the hospitalization of more than 200 people.

The earthquakes that hit this week — a magnitude 3.2 on Monday, centered near Doheny Drive and Wilshire Boulevard, and a 3.4 after midnight Friday, centered near Wilshire Boulevard and Beverly Drive — were shallow.