Nisqually (Washington)
earthquake of February 28, 2001
ATS experts inspected the epicentral area of the February 28, 2001 Nisqually
earthquake. This magnitude 6.8 earthquake caused some damage in Olympia and
Seattle areas. Below are the selected photos taken by ATS experts. For more
information please contact us.

State Capitol legislature building damaged during the earthquake. The picture
shows a cracked and displaced column supporting the dome.
Collapse of unreinforced masonry wall of Skookum Bay store in downtown Olympia

The earthquake created a large sinkhole at Freeway 101 (intersection of SR8)
about 6 miles NW of Olympia
There are numerous unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings in Seattle's Pioneer
Square. Several of such buildings which had not been upgraded suffered severe
damage and partial collapse of parapets and masonry walls.



Failure of masonary wall at the support of emergency stairs in a URM building
(Pioneer Square, Seattle)

Numerous upgraded masonary buildings, however, survived in Pioneer Square
(Seattle).

In "South of King Dome" area in Seattle, URM buildings suffered
parapet and wall collapse. The photo shows the damaged "Seattle
Chocolates" building.