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Earthquake-GTASA-Doherty

A damaged building in Doherty, remnant of the 1988 earthquake.

Earthquakes in the State of San Andreas are mentioned in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. At least two significant ones are known to have occurred, in 1988 and 1992.

Description[]

Like much of the state of California which it is based on, San Andreas suffers from occasional earthquakes. A fault line that can be found off the coast of San Fierro further proves this.

1988 Earthquake[]

In 1988, the Doherty district was devestated by an earthquake that leveled several blocks, and destroyed a countless number of properties. While most of the reconstruction has been completed, there are still visible signs of the earthquake's aftermath.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - City Guides

In 1988, a powerful earthquake struck San Andreas, devastating the Doherty district of San Fierro. Several blocks were leveled and buildings were destroyed, with a large section of an overhead roadway in neighboring Easter Basin collapsing. By 1992, most of the rebuilding work had been completed, though in Doherty, a derelict patch of land and a few damaged buildings near the Driving School remained, along with a small section of the damaged roadway in Easter Basin.[1]

1992 Earthquake[]

All transit between Los Santos and the greater Red County area is still strictly limited following last month's earthquake. Officials are not confident as to when things will open up again.

A notable earthquake occured in 1992, around a month before the beginning of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and is mentioned several times on the radio. It is the cause of the closure of the inter-county bridges, which prevents the player from legally leaving Los Santos at the start of the game (despite the fact none of the closed bridges display any significant damage) and preventing residents from travelling across the state. Eventually, the bridges are repaired and reopened as the story progresses.

Inspiration[]

The 1988 earthquake likely references the Loma Prieta Earthquake of October 1989 which caused heavy damage to the San Francisco Bay Area. In particular, a portion of San Fierro's Garver Bridge approach is collapsed in a manner reminiscent of the collapse of both the Embarcadero Freeway in San Francisco and the Cypress Street Viaduct in Oakland.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • The game was originally supposed to feature earthquakes, where the ground would shake and cars would bounce up and down. While the code remains in the game, it cannot be activated and the feature is left unused.
  • A destroyed bridge near Palomino Creek and a collapsed rock formation in Bone County are possibly the result of an earthquake.
  • An underground garage to the San Fierro Center is shuttered, with a sign posted, informing the reader that the building is unsafe and no entry is permitted. This is possibly damage still lingering from the 1988 earthquake, due to the building's proximity to the Easter Basin and Doherty districts.

See Also[]

Reference[]

  1. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - City Guides (PC manual) p.34
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