A powerful earthquake measuring M 7.1 occurred just before noon on April 13, 1949, a few miles north of Olympia, Washington. The temblor was centered at a depth of 54 km beneath the surface and within the subducted Juan de Fuca tectonic plate under the North American plate.

Shaking was very strong, registering Modified Mercalli Scale intensities of VIII-IX (a relative shaking intensity scale from 1-12 shown in Roman numerals). Heavy damage occurred over a wide area in Washington and Oregon. Eight persons were killed and the total damage was estimated at over $150 million (1949 dollars). See more photos.

At Olympia, nearly all the tall buildings sustained damaged and numerous residential buildings were wrecked. Many surrounding towns reported ruptured water mains, toppled chimneys, cracked walls, and fallen plaster. Several schools were also severely damaged. A 300 foot section of cliff fell into the Puget Sound near Tacoma.

Strangely, no significant aftershocks were detected.

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