1940 Lima earthquake

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1940 Lima earthquake
Peru physical map.svg
Bullseye1.png
UTC  time1940-05-24 16:33:59
ISC  event 901374
USGS-ANSS ComCat
Local date24 May 1940
Local time11:35 a.m.
Duration~1 minute
Magnitude8.2 Mw
Depth45 km (28 mi)
Epicenter 11°05′38″S77°29′13″W / 11.094°S 77.487°W / -11.094; -77.487
Fault Peru-Chile Megathrust
Type Megathrust
Areas affected Peru
Max. intensity MMI VIII (Severe)
Tsunami2 m (6 ft 7 in)
LandslidesYes
Aftershocks Mw 6.6
Casualties179–300 dead
3,500 injured

The 1940 Lima earthquake occurred on May 24 at 11:35 a.m. PST with a magnitude of Mw 8.2 on the moment magnitude scale. Shaking from this powerful earthquake was felt throughout the country, and in Ecuador and Chile. [1] An estimated 179 to 300 people died while 3,500 left injured by the earthquake. The earthquake was centered near the coastal cities of Huacho and Huaura, about 150 km (93 mi) north of the Peruvian capital, Lima. There was a tsunami of up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) that did not cause damage. [2]

Contents

Earthquake

The earthquake was a megathrust event, caused by a sudden slippage along a section of fault under the Peru–Chile Trench. Here, the Nazca Plate subducts beneath the South American Plate at a rate of 10 cm (3.9 in)/yr, this process could be seen throughout the entire west coast of South America. The interface where both plates make contact occasionally produce moderate to great earthquakes. [3] During the May 1940 earthquake, it is thought that a 162 km (101 mi) × 71 km (44 mi) segment of the megathrust ruptured, with an average displacement of 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in). A maximum uplift of 1.27 m (4 ft 2 in), and subsidence of 0.6 m (2 ft 0 in) was estimated. [4] The rupture area is wedged between that of the 1966 and 1974 earthquake. [5]

Damage

In Lima, the devastation was great, 32 people were killed in this city alone, while in Callao, the death toll was at 58. The Lima Cathedral was badly damaged, together with several thousand buildings. [6] At Bellavista, there were 11 deaths, ten of them were children when the school they were in collapsed, and in San Miguel, two people died. [6] Damage from the earthquake was estimated at 3.6 million Peruvian sols. The shaking was assigned a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). [4] It was also felt in Guayaquil, Eduador and Arica, Chile. [7]

The destruction in Lima, Callao, Chorrillos, Barranco, Chancay and Lurín were also worsened by their poor condition and age. Some modern buildings also had damage which were attributed to the soil type they were constructed on. The Port of Callao, situated on water-logged sandy terrain was heavily damaged. Structures built on alluvial and river deposits were also affected. In Chancay, damage was comparable to Lima; two churches toppled and some dilapidated quincha buildings suffered from collapsed walls. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

The Peru–Chile Trench, also known as the Atacama Trench, is an oceanic trench in the eastern Pacific Ocean, about 160 kilometres (99 mi) off the coast of Peru and Chile. It reaches a maximum depth of 8,065 m (26,460 ft) below sea level in Richards Deep and is approximately 5,900 km (3,666 mi) long; its mean width is 64 km (40 mi) and it covers an expanse of some 590,000 km2 (230,000 sq mi).

Megathrust earthquakes occur at convergent plate boundaries, where one tectonic plate is forced underneath another. The earthquakes are caused by slip along the thrust fault that forms the contact between the two plates. These interplate earthquakes are the planet's most powerful, with moment magnitudes (Mw) that can exceed 9.0. Since 1900, all earthquakes of magnitude 9.0 or greater have been megathrust earthquakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aleutian Trench</span> An oceanic trench along the southern coastline of Alaska and the Aleutian islands

The Aleutian Trench is an oceanic trench along a convergent plate boundary which runs along the southern coastline of Alaska and the Aleutian islands. The trench extends for 3,400 kilometres (2,100 mi) from a triple junction in the west with the Ulakhan Fault and the northern end of the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench, to a junction with the northern end of the Queen Charlotte Fault system in the east. It is classified as a "marginal trench" in the east as it runs along the margin of the continent. The subduction along the trench gives rise to the Aleutian Arc, a volcanic island arc, where it runs through the open sea west of the Alaska Peninsula. As a convergent plate boundary, the trench forms part of the boundary between two tectonic plates. Here, the Pacific Plate is being subducted under the North American Plate at a dip angle of nearly 45°. The rate of closure is 7.5 centimetres (3 in) per year.

The 1957 Andreanof Islands earthquake occurred at 04:22 local time on March 9 with a moment magnitude estimated at 8.6 and a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). It occurred south of the Andreanof Islands group, which is part of the Aleutian Islands arc. The event occurred along the Aleutian Trench, the convergent plate boundary that separates the Pacific Plate and the North American plates near Alaska. A basin-wide tsunami followed, with effects felt in Alaska and Hawaii, and strong waves recorded across the Pacific rim. Total losses were around $5 million.

The 1922 Vallenar earthquake occurred with a moment magnitude of 8.5–8.6 and a tsunami magnitude of 8.7 in the Atacama Region of Chile, near the border with Argentina on 11 November at 04:32 UTC. It triggered a destructive tsunami that caused significant damage to the coast of Chile and was observed as far away as Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1868 Arica earthquake</span> Chilean earthquake and Pacific Ocean tsunami

The 1868 Arica earthquake occurred on 13 August 1868, near Arica, then part of Peru, now part of Chile, at 21:30 UTC. It had an estimated magnitude between 8.5 and 9.3. A tsunami in the Pacific Ocean was produced by the earthquake, which was recorded in Hawaii, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

The 1687 Peru earthquake occurred at 11:30 UTC on 20 October 1687. It had an estimated magnitude of 8.4–8.7 and caused severe damage to Lima, Callao and Ica. It triggered a tsunami and overall, about 5,000 people died.

The 1877 Iquique earthquake occurred at 21:16 local time on 9 May. It had a magnitude of 8.5 on the surface wave magnitude scale. Other estimates of its magnitude have been as high as 8.9 Mw and 9.0 Mt. It had a maximum intensity of XI (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale and triggered a devastating tsunami. A total of 2,385 people died, mainly in Fiji from the tsunami.

The 1746 Lima–Callao earthquake occurred at 22:30 local time on 28 October with a moment magnitude of 8.6–8.8 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme). The epicenter was located about 90 km (56 mi) north-northwest of the capital Lima, which was almost completely destroyed, and the subsequent tsunami devastated the port city of Callao. It was the deadliest earthquake in Peru’s history prior to the 1970 earthquake.

The 1907 Sumatra earthquake occurred on January 4 at 05:19:12 UTC. The re-estimated moment magnitude (Mw) is 8.2 to 8.4, with an epicentre close to Simeulue, off Sumatra. An earlier study re-estimated a surface-wave magnitude (Ms) of 7.5 to 8.0. It triggered a widespread and damaging Indian Ocean wide tsunami that caused at least 2,188 deaths on Sumatra. The low observed intensity compared to the size of the tsunami has led to its interpretation as a tsunami earthquake. Higher levels of shaking observed on Nias are attributed to a large aftershock, less than an hour later. The tsunami gave rise to the S'mong legend, which is credited with saving many lives during the 2004 earthquake.

On January 30, 1973, at 15:01 (UTC–6), a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck 35.3 km (21.9 mi) beneath the Sierra Madre del Sur range in the Mexican states of Colima, Jalisco and Michoacán. On the Mercalli intensity scale, the earthquake reached a maximum intensity of X (Extreme), causing serious damage in the region. At least 56 people were killed and about 390 were injured. The event is commonly referred to as the Colima earthquake.

The Nemuro-Oki earthquake in scientific literature, occurred on June 17 at 12:55 local time. It struck with an epicenter just off the Nemuro Peninsula in northern Hokkaidō, Japan. It measured 7.8–7.9 on the moment magnitude scale (Mw ), 8.1 on the tsunami magnitude scale (Mt ) and 7.4 on the Japan Meteorological Agency magnitude scale (MJMA ).

An earthquake occurred on 26 August 2012 at 22:37 local time. The earthquake located off the coast of El Salvador measured 7.3 on the moment magnitude scale and had a focal depth of 16.0 kilometres (10 mi). No deaths were reported, however more than 40 people were injured when they were caught in a tsunami generated by the earthquake. Waves from the tsunami were unusually large for an earthquake of this size. The large waves were attributed to the earthquake's unique rupture characteristic. In addition to the absence of fatalities, damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami was minimal as a result of the sparse population around the affected region and the slow rupture characteristic of the event.

The 1604 Arica earthquake is an earthquake that occurred at 1:30 pm on November 24, 1604, offshore Arica, Chile. The estimated magnitude range is 8.0–8.5 Ms and possibly up to 9.0 Mw. It had a destructive tsunami that destroyed Arica and caused major damage at Arequipa. 1,200 km of coastline were affected by the tsunami. The recorded effects of this earthquake are very similar to those for the 1868 Arica event, suggesting a similar magnitude and rupture area of the megathrust between the subducting Nazca Plate and the overriding South American Plate. Tsunami deposits have been identified on the Chatham Islands that are likely to have been caused by a trans-Pacific tsunami caused by the 1604 earthquake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Chignik earthquake</span> 7th largest earthquake in the US

An earthquake occurred off the coast of the Alaska Peninsula on July 28, 2021, at 10:15 p.m. local time. The large megathrust earthquake had a moment magnitude of 8.2 according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). A tsunami warning was issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) but later cancelled. The mainshock was followed by a number of aftershocks, including three that were of magnitude 5.9, 6.1 and 6.9 respectively.

The 1586 Lima–Callao earthquake occurred on July 9 along the coast of Peru, near the capital Lima. A section of the Peruvian coast, stretching from Caravelí to Trujillo, north to south, was severely damaged by the earthquake. Major destruction occurred in the capital city Lima as well. The estimated moment magnitude (Mw ) 8.1 earthquake triggered a locally damaging tsunami up to 5 m (16 ft). This was the first major earthquake to strike the city of Lima since its establishment in 1535.

The 1947 Satipo earthquake occurred on November 1 at 09:58:57 local time with an epicenter in the Peruvian Amazon jungle in the Department of Junín. The earthquake had an estimated moment magnitude (Mw ) of 7.7 and a shallow focal depth of 20 km.

During April 1819, the area around Copiapó in northern Chile was struck by a sequence of earthquakes over a period of several days. The largest of these earthquakes occurred on 11 April at about 15:00 local time, with an estimated magnitude of Mw 8.5. The other two events, on 3 April between 08:00 and 09:00 local time and on 4 April at 16:00 local time, are interpreted as foreshocks to the mainshock on 11 April. The mainshock triggered a tsunami that affected 800 km of coastline and was also recorded at Hawaii. The city of Copiapó was devastated.

The 1657 Concepción earthquake occurred on March 15 at 20:00 local time off the coast of Concepción, Biobío Region in the Spanish Empire. The earthquake caused severe damage along the coast, and generated a large tsunami in the Bay of Concepción. At least 40 people were killed, the majority due to drowning from the tsunami. The town of Concepción was the hardest hit, with the earthquake and tsunami totally destroying it.

The 1843 Nias earthquake off the northern coast of Sumatra, Indonesia caused severe damage when it triggered a tsunami along the coastline. The earthquake with a moment magnitude (Mw ) of 7.8 lasted nine minutes, collapsing many homes in Sumatra and Nias. It was assigned a maximum modified Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme).

References

  1. ↑ "20th Century Earthquakes Records about Historical Earthquakes in Peru". LimaEasy. Archived from the original on August 25, 2013. Retrieved 12 Dec 2020.
  2. ↑ "Tsunami Event Information CENTRAL PERU". NGDC. Retrieved 12 Dec 2020.
  3. ↑ Bilek, Susan L. (2009). "Seismicity along the South American subduction zone: Review of large earthquakes, tsunamis, and subduction zone complexity" (PDF). Tectonophysics. 495 (1–2): 2–14. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2009.02.037.
  4. 1 2 Jiménez, C.; Moggiano, N. (2020). "Numerical simulation of the 1940 Lima-Peru earthquake and tsunami (Mw 8.0)". Journal of Seismology. 24 (1): 89–99. Bibcode:2020JSeis..24...89J. doi:10.1007/s10950-019-09887-2. S2CID   208044199 – via SpringerLink.
  5. ↑ Beck, Susan L.; Ruff, Larry J. (1989). "Great earthquakes and subduction along the Peru trench" (PDF). Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors. 57 (3–4): 199–224. Bibcode:1989PEPI...57..199B. doi:10.1016/0031-9201(89)90112-X. hdl:2027.42/27698.
  6. 1 2 "300 die in Lima earthquake". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  7. 1 2 Ferro, Enrique Silgado (1978). Historia de los sismos más notables ocurridos en el Perú (1513 -1974) - [Boletín C 3] [History of the most notable earthquakes that occurred in Peru (1513 -1974) - [Bulletin C 3]](PDF). INGEMMET. Boletín, Serie C: Geodinámica e Ingeniería Geológica (in Spanish). Instituto de Geología y Minería. p. 74.
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