Map shows which areas of Vancouver face most damage in an earthquake

A map released by the City ofVancouverhighlights areas that would see the most severe damage during a significantearthquake.

The map was produced as part of the city's ongoing investments to assessearthquakerisk and upgrade infrastructure.

It shows a magnitude 7.3earthquakewould cause the most damage toVancouver's older, multi-family residential and commercial areas.

Chinatown, Kitsilano, South Granville and the West End would be hit the hardest, with pockets of damage also highlighted in the Point Grey, Strathcona, Mount Pleasant and Marpole areas.

Themap also shows that much of the southern half ofVancouver would see limited damage, although a statement from the city saiddisruption from such a powerful shakewould be felt city-wide.

City officials released the map in preparation for the 2019 Great British Columbia ShakeOut drill, held Thursday morning.

"During anearthquake, the best thing you can do is drop, cover, and hold on,'' read a citystatement.

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The drill is designed to encourage all British Columbians to practise their response to anearthquakeand assess emergency preparedness.

VancouverFire Chief Darrell Reid saidbeyond participating in the drill, everyone should be prepared.

"Know the risks, make a plan and have the emergency supplies you need to get by so first responders can prioritize life-saving calls,'' saidReid.

The area of greatest risk in B.C. is along the Cascadia subduction zone, a fault running from northernVancouverIsland to northern California thatseparatesthe North American tectonic plateand the Juan de Fuca plate west ofVancouverIsland.

Earthquakeanalysts say the Juan de Fuca plate is skidding below the North American plate, creating the potential for a major slip along the fault line, which would trigger a powerfulearthquake.

The B.C. government'searthquakeand tsunami guide saysquakes powerful enough to cause structural damage happen in the province on an average of once per decade.

The province saidthere have been four large quakes in the area since a devastating magnitude 9.0temblor in 1700, including a 7.8 earthquake that caused significant damage across Haida Gwaii in 2012.