The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake ( epicenter in the Santa Cruz Mountains northwest of San Juan Bautista , California ) caused significant damage in the San Francisco Bay Area of California . The U.S. Geological Survey ( USGS ) reportedly claimed , twelve hours '' after '' the event , that it had " forecast " this earthquake in a report the previous year . USGS staff subsequently claimed this quake had been " anticipated " ; various other claims of prediction have also been made
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
Earthquake prediction