20 years ago today: 6.8 Nisqually earthquake rocked Western Washington

Many Western Washington residents still remember where they were when the shaking started on Feb. 28, 2001.

Twenty years ago today, Western Washington was rocked by the 6.8 magnitude Nisqually earthquake for approximately 45 seconds. In less than a minute, an estimated 200 people were injured. The quake was also cited as the cause for one man’s fatal heart attack in Burien.

Damages topped $1 billion, with higher-end estimates as high as $3 billion, according to Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports from that day and History Link. The State Capitol in Olympia and several buildings in Seattle’s Pioneer Square suffered.

Damage from the Nisqually earthquake in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood.

STEVAN MORGAIN/Associated

→ Continue reading at Seattle PI

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