On April 18, 1906, at dawn, an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8.2 on the Richter scale struck San Francisco violently. This seismic shock, one of the most significant in modern history, devastated the Californian metropolis, not only through the collapse of buildings but especially due to the gigantic fires that ravaged the city for three consecutive days.
The disaster highlighted the vulnerability of urban infrastructure at that time. Through the analysis of damages, engineers noted the rupture of water pipelines, rendering firefighters powerless against the flames. The tragedy illustrated the end of a certain architectural carelessness, as the city was built on a major fault zone, the San Andreas, without adequate safety standards.
Parallel to the human and material trauma, this event triggered a transformation in seismology and urban planning. It led to the emergence of the first major scientific study on earthquakes and the development of seismic building codes. This earthquake became the first example of a natural disaster documented through mass photography, forever marking the memory of the United States. Even today, the Californian city lives in anticipation of the “Big One,” the inevitable major earthquake that threatens the region.
On the Front Page of “Sud Ouest” on April 18, 2005:
After the death of Jean-Paul II, the conclave to elect a new pope opens on April 18, 2005. It will last two days.
To find and view the PDF articles of “Sud Ouest”, click here.
In the Calendar:
- Saint Parfait: Born in Cordoba (Andalusia), condemned to death in this city on April 18, 850 for trying to convert Muslims. The Perfect are intelligent and firm. Their color: orange. Their number: 7. Daily saying: “April makes the flower, May honors it.”
Events on April 18:
- 1863: Jules Verne publishes his first novel “Five Weeks in a Balloon.”
- 1904: Jean Jaurès founds the “Humanité” newspaper.
- 1955: Death of physicist Albert Einstein.
- 1966: Start of the Cultural Revolution in China.
- 1974: Death of Marcel Pagnol.
- 1986: Death of Marcel Dassault.
- 2002: Death of Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl.
- 2015: First edition of Bordeaux’s night marathon.
- 2024: The French rugby sevens team prepares in the Landes for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Born on April 18:
- Nadine de Rothschild, French baroness (1932).
- Jean-François Balmer, French actor (1946).
- James Woods, American actor (1947).
- Michaël Levinas, French composer and pianist (1949).
- Laurent Baffie, French humorist (1958).
- Zazie, French singer-songwriter (1964).
- Olivier Besancenot, French politician (1974).
