Earthquake Investigations

Over forty years, EQE® has visited and studied over 100 major earthquakes worldwide in order to better understand their effects on organizations, buildings, and systems. Our founder Peter Yanev has personally visited over fifty and sent teams to the others in order to capture the lessons learned first-hand. EQE's past earthquake investigations, the most thorough in the risk consulting industry, are the foundation of our knowledge and business.

  • 1971 San Fernando, CA (M6.5)
  • 1972 Managua, Nicaragua (M6.3)
  • 1973 Point Mugu, CA (M5.9)
  • 1973 Managua, Nicaragua (M5.8)
  • 1975 Ferndale, CA (M5.5)
  • 1975 Lice, Turkey (M6.8)
  • 1976 Friuli, Italy (M6.5)
  • 1977 Vrancia, Romania (M7.4)
  • 1978 Izu Peninsula, Japan (M6.7)
  • 1978 Miyagi-Ken-oki, Japan (M7.4)
  • 1978 Santa Barbara, CA (M5.1)
  • 1979 Bishop, CA (M5.8)
  • 1979 Gilroy, CA (M5.5)
  • 1979 Imperial Valley, CA (M6.6)
  • 1980 Livermore, CA (M5.5 and 5.8)
  • 1980 Eureka, CA (M7.0)
  • 1980 Mammoth Mt., CA (M6.5, 6.5, 6.7)
  • 1981 Brawley, CA (M5.6)
  • 1983 Coalinga, CA (M6.7)
  • 1983 Borah Mt., Idaho (M6.9)
  • 1984 Morgan Hill, CA (M6.2)
  • 1985 Santiago, Chile (M7.8 and 7.2)
  • 1985 Mexico City, Mexico (M8.1 and 7.5)
  • 1986 Painesville, Ohio (M5.0)
  • 1986 Adak Island, Alaska (M7.7 and 6.5)
  • 1986 North Palm Springs, CA (M6.0)
  • 1986 Chalfant Valley, CA (M6.0 and 5.5)
  • 1986 San Salvador, El Salvador (M5.4)
  • 1986 Northern Taiwan (M6.8)
  • 1987 Cerro Prieto, Mexico (M5.4)
  • 1987 Bay of Plenty, New Zealand (M6.2)
  • 1987 Whittier, CA (M5.9)
  • 1987 Superstition Hills, CA (M6.3)
  • 1988 Gorman, CA (M5.2)
  • 1988 Alum Rock, CA (M5.1)
  • 1988 Saguenay, Quebec (M6.0)
  • 1988 Armenia, USSR (M6.9)
  • 1989 Acapulco, Mexico (M6.8)
  • 1989 Loma Prieta, CA (M7.1)
  • 1989 Newcastle, Australia (M5.5)
  • 1990 Upland, California (M5.5)
  • 1990 Bishop's Castle, Wales (M5.4)
  • 1990 Manjil, Iran (M7.7)
  • 1990 Central Luzon, Philippines (M7.7)
  • 1991 Valle de la Estrella, Costa Rica (M7.4)
  • 1991 Sierra Madre, CA (M5.8)
  • 1992 Erzincan, Turkey (M6.8)
  • 1992 Roermond, Netherlands (M5.8)


  • 1992 Desert Hot Springs, CA (M6.1)
  • 1992 Cape Mendocino, CA (M7.0, 6.0, & 6.5)
  • 1992 Landers-Big Bear, CA (M7.6 and 6.7)
  • 1992 Cairo, Egypt (M5.9)
  • 1993 Scotts Mill, OR (M5.3)
  • 1993 Nansei-oki Hokkaido, Japan, (M7.8)
  • 1993 Agana, Guam (M8.2)
  • 1993 Klamath Falls, OR (M5.7)
  • 1994 Northridge, CA (M6.6)
  • 1994 Tohoko-oki, Hokkaido, Japan (M8.1)
  • 1995 Great Hanshin (Kobe), Japan (M7.2)
  • 1995 Pereira, Colombia (M6.5)
  • 1995 Sakhalin Islands, Russia (M7.2)
  • 1995 Antofagasta, Chile (M7.4)
  • 1995 Manzanillo, Mexico (M7.6)
  • 1996 Duvall (Seattle,), WA (M5.3)
  • 1997 Calico, CA (M5.0)
  • 1997 Umbria, Italy (M5.5)
  • 1998 Adana-Ceyhan, Turkey (M6.2)
  • 1999 Armenia, Colombia (M5.0)
  • 1999 Puerto Escondido, Mexico (M7.5)
  • 1999 Western Washington (M5.8)
  • 1999 Izmit, Turkey (M7.4)
  • 1999 Duzce, Turkey (M7.2)
  • 1999 Central Taiwan (M7.6)
  • 1999 Athens, Greece (M5.9)
  • 1999 Algeria (M5.5)
  • 1999 Hector Mine, California (M7.1)
  • 2000 Napa, CA (M5.2)
  • 2000 Tottori, Japan (M6.7)
  • 2001 Gujarat, India (M7.6)
  • 2001 Seattle, WA (M6.8)
  • 2002 San Simeon (Paso Robles), CA (M6.5)
  • 2007 West Sumatra, Indonesia (M6.3)
  • 2007 Niigata (Kashiwazaki), Japan (M6.8)
  • 2008 Wells, Nevada (M6.3)
  • 2008 Sichuan, China (M8.0)
  • 2008 Chino Hills, Los Angeles, CA (M5.4)
  • 2009 L’Aquila, Italy (M6.3)
  • 2010 Haiti (M6.9)
  • 2010 Chile (M8.8)
  • 2010 Baja California, Mexico & CA (M7.2)
  • 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand (M6.3)
  • 2011 Japan - Sendai, Tohoku Region (M9.0)
  • 2011 Mineral, Virginia (M5.9)
  • 2011 Van, Turkey (M7.2)
  • 2014 Napa (American Canyon), CA (M6.0)
  • 2016 Kyushu, Japan (M7.0)
  • 2017 Central Mexico (M7.1) & Chiapas, Mexico (M.8.1)

Hurricane, Typhoon & Flood Investigations

  • 1989    Hugo (Caribbean, Puerto Rico, South Carolina)
  • 1992    Andrew (Florida, Louisiana)
  • 1992    Iniki (Kauai, Hawaii)

  • 1993    Hokkaido Nansei (Japan)

  • 1995    Luis (Northeast Caribbean)
  • 1995    Marilyn (Northeast Caribbean)
  • 1995    Opal (Florida panhandle)
  • 1995    Angela (Philippine Islands)
  • 1996    Fran (North and South Carolina)
  • 1997    Paka (Guam)

  • 1997    Red River (North Dakota)
  • 1998    Georges (Northeast Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Gulf Coast)
  • 1999    Floyd (Eastern US)
  • 1999    Lothar (Western Europe)
  • 1999    Martin (Western Europe)
  • 2005    Katrina (Gulf Coast, Mississippi, Louisiana, New Orleans)      
  • 2011    Tropical Storm Nock-ten (Thailand)
  • 2012    Sandy (New York, New Jersey)