If California were struck by an earthquake similar to the one that devastated China, 1,800 people would die, the U.S. Geological Survey said Thursday.

Under the scenario, the injured would number 50,000, property damage would be in the $200 billion range, and effects on social and economic issues would be long-lasting, USGS scientists said in a news release issued from Reston, Va.

Scientists said the analysis of what a major Southern California earthquake would mean is the most comprehensive ever and sets the scientific framework for what will be the largest earthquake preparedness drill in California history, scheduled for Nov. 13.

While fictional, the so-called Shakeout Scenario is based on scientists' best predictions of what would really happen during and after a major earthquake on the San Andreas Fault. The scenario's earthquake would be the strongest and cause the greatest damage along a stretch of the San Andreas Fault extending through Southern California, including Coachella Valley, the USGS said.

The May 12 earthquake in China's Sichuan province and surrounding areas killed 51,151 people. More than 29,000 others are listed as missing and 288,431 were injured.

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