1953 Paphos earthquake

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1953 Paphos earthquake
Cyprus relief location map.jpg
Green pog.svg
Paphos
Bullseye1.png
UTC  time1953-09-10 04:06:04
ISC  event 891997
USGS-ANSS ComCat
Local date10 September 1953
Local time06:05 EET
Magnitude6.5 Ms
6.3 Mw
Epicenter 34°44′28″N32°20′06″E / 34.741°N 32.335°E / 34.741; 32.335
Areas affected British Cyprus
Total damage33,000 buildings damaged
Max. intensity X (Extreme)
TsunamiYes
Casualties40 dead
100 injured

The 1953 Paphos earthquake struck British Cyprus (present day Cyprus) on the morning of 10 September, at 06:05 EET. It had a magnitude of Ms  6.5 on the surface-wave magnitude scale, and had a maximum intensity of X (Extreme) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale. [1] The epicenter of this earthquake was situated off the island's west coast, near the city of Paphos. At least 40 people died and 100 were injured. It was also felt in Rhodes, Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon and Kastellorizo. [2]

Contents

Geological setting

Cyprus is wedged in a complex zone of interaction between the Anatolian (which part of the larger Eurasian Plate) and African Plate. These two plates are colliding along the Cyprus Arc, a plate boundary that runs south of the island. This subduction zone is offset by a small transform fault known as the Paphos Transform Fault. The plate boundary, coupled with the Dead Sea Transform and East Anatolian Fault accommodates motion of the African and Arabian Plates. [3] This has resulted in moderately destructive, mid-range earthquakes, including a magnitude 7.1–7.5 in 1222 which caused great devastation to the island and generated a tsunami.

Earthquake

The mainshock was associated with shallow normal faulting. Seismologists Nicholas Ambraseys and Robin Adams derived instrumental and macroseismic information to reveal two similarly-sized mainshocks. These earthquakes were separated in time by eight seconds with epicenters 50 km (31 mi) apart. Their surface-wave magnitudes were Ms  6.0 and 6.1, respectively. Global earthquake catalogs have only listed one mainshock, reliably recorded by 198 stations. [4]

Damage and aftermath

Forty people were killed and 100 injured, mainly due to collapses as bodies were being pulled from the rubble. [5] Another 4,000 were made homeless in the 158 towns and villages that were affected. [5] The earthquake also triggered landslides which further damaged communities. [6] Destruction in the towns of Stroumbi, Axylou, Kithasi, Lapithiou and Phasoula was complete. [4] Shaking was accompanied by a small tsunami which waves were seen along the coast of Paphos without damage. [7] [8]

Rehabilitation and assistance were provided by the Government of the United Kingdom. On 13 September, tents and aid supplies were air flown by the Royal Air Force while the Royal Navy sailed through the Suez Canal to help contribute to the recovery efforts. Blankets and clothing were supplied to those affected by the British Red Cross. [9]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Significant Earthquake Information CYPRUS: PAPHOS". NGDC. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  2. ↑ Nicolaides, Andreas (13 September 2018). "Which were Cyprus' largest earthquakes?". In-Cyprus. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  3. ↑ Eleftheria Papadimitriou, Vassilios Karakostas (September 2006). "Earthquake generation in Cyprus revealed by the evolving stress field". Tectonophysics. 423 (1–4): 61. Bibcode:2006Tectp.423...61P. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2006.03.014.
  4. 1 2 Ambraseys, N.N.; Adams, R.D. (1993). "Seismicity of the Cyprus region". Terra Nova. 5 (1): 85–94. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3121.1993.tb00229.x.
  5. 1 2 A.A.P. "Earthquakes Cause Deaths, Havoc On Cyprus". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  6. ↑ "The deadly earthquake of Paphos in 1953 - Rare pictures and video". Paphos Life. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  7. ↑ Anna Fokaefs, Gerassimos A. Papadopoulos (March 2007). "Tsunami hazard in the Eastern Mediterranean: Strong earthquakes and tsunamis in Cyprus and the Levantine Sea". Natural Hazards. 40 (3): 503–526. Bibcode:2007NatHa..40..503F. doi:10.1007/s11069-006-9011-3. S2CID   129760050.
  8. ↑ "Tsunami Event Information LEVANTIAN SEA". NGDC. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  9. ↑ "CYPRUS EARTHQUAKE (RELIEF AND REHABILITATION)". Parliament of the UK. October 1953. Retrieved 12 December 2020.


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