Earthquake prediction an instance of the quandary public officials face: in 1995 Professor Varotsos reportedly filed a complaint with the public prosecutor accusing government officials of negligence in not responding to his supposed prediction of an earthquake. A government official was quoted as saying "VAN's prediction was not of any use" in that it covered two-thirds of the area of Greece. 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
1989 West Papua earthquake 1989 West Papua earthquake The 1989 West Papua earthquake struck West Papua, Indonesia – then Irian Jaya province – on August 1 with a moment magnitude of 6.0 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII ("Severe"). Around 120 people were killed, mainly due to landslides and mudslides. The West Papua earthquake struck at 9:17 local time and measured 5.7 and 6.0 on the moment magnitude scale. Its epicenter was located south of Jayapura; the earthquake reached as far as Wamena. There were multiple aftershocks. The earthquake killed 120 people and left 120 injured; all of the dead were recovered from