1956 Baghlan earthquake

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1956 Afghanistan earthquake
Afghanistan physical map.svg
Bullseye1.png
Red pog.svg
Kabul
UTC  time1956-06-09 23:13:55
ISC  event 888345
USGS-ANSS ComCat
Local date10 June 1956 (1956-06-10)
Local time03:43
Magnitude7.3 Mw [1]
Depth25 km (16 mi) [1]
Epicenter 35°09′18″N67°36′25″E / 35.155°N 67.607°E / 35.155; 67.607
TypeOblique-slip [2]
Areas affected Afghanistan
Max. intensity MMI VIII (Severe) – MMI IX (Violent) [2]
CasualtiesDeaths
Reported: 570 [3] –900 [4]
Afghan Embassy reported: 300 [5]
Injured
Reported: 2,000 [6] –2,500 [3]
Afghan Embassy reported: 200 [5]

The 1956 Afghanistan earthquake occurred in the early morning of 10 June 1956, causing considerable damage and casualties in the area of Kabul, Bamyan and the Hindu Kush mountain range. [7] It had a magnitude of 7.3 on the surface-wave magnitude scale. The total number of deaths were between 300 [5] and as high as 900. [4] According to Radio Afghanistan it was the heaviest registered earthquake ever in Afghanistan. [7]

Contents

Earthquake

It had an magnitude of 7.3 on the surface-wave magnitude scale at a depth of 25 km (16 mi). [8] A foreshock was recorded one day prior to the mainshock. The foreshock occurred in Sayghan District, Kahmard District and Bamyan. [9] Five aftershocks followed the mainshock within the next two days. The location of these events delineated a 50 km (31 mi) rupture length trending northeast. The northeast trend was also consistent with the meizoseismal area where the Mercalli intensity was VIII–IX (Severe–Violent). Rupture occurred north of the Herat Fault; a 1,100 km (680 mi) long strike-slip fault trending east–west; no major earthquakes have been associated with the fault in the instrumental period. [2] Many aftershocks followed a week after the mainshock. [10] [7] [9]

Impact

The most affected areas were Kabul, Bamyan and the Hindu Kush mountain range. [11] [7] In the affected areas all communication method and infrastructure was destroyed. [9] In the Kabul area, thousands of houses collapsed, [10] including some government buildings. [12] Villages were destroyed by landslides and rockslides; [9] hundreds of houses were washed away by floods in the Kunar Valley. [4] [6] The earthquake caused the landscape to change. [10] [7] The large rocks fell into the river valley, altering the course of the river. [9] Due to the damaged infrastructure, traffic was blocked in many affected areas. [13]

In initial reports no number of victims could be given, as information was limited because all communication was destroyed in the affected area. Ten people were killed due to a bridge that collapsed. [14] As of 14 June, four days after the first earthquake, according to Radio Afghanistan at least hundred people were killed, 600 were missing and thousands were injured. [7] The next day the number of deaths were reported between 60 and 70. [12] 17 June, a week after the earthquake Radio Afghanistan reported around 270 deaths. [15] [16] The next day 2500 new victims were announced, of whom 300 deaths. [13] In one of the affected areas 140 people were killed and 900 injured due to heavy floods. In another part of the valley there were 160 people killed and 1,000 injured. [4] [6] The total number of deaths reported by media was as high as 570 to 900, [3] [4] while the total number of injured people were reported to be 2,000–2,500, [6] [3] The Afghan embassy reported 300 deaths and 200 injuries. [5]

Response

Relief work was carried out by Hilal Ahmar. Coordination was done by officials of the Ministries of health and public works. [9] Afghanistan received international aid. The Netherlands Red Cross sent, with transport help of KLM, aid to the victims. [12] [17] Pakistan offered doctors and medication. [4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 ISC (2022), ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1904–2018), Version 9.1, International Seismological Centre , retrieved 7 October 2023
  2. 1 2 3 Quittmeyer, R. C.; Jacob, K. H. (1979), "Historical and modern seismicity of Pakistan, Afghanistan, northwestern India, and southeastern Iran", Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 69 (3): 773–823, retrieved 7 October 2023
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Reddingsploeg vindt nog 2500 slachtoffers" [Rescue team finds 2500 more victims]. De Tijd (in Dutch). 19 June 1956. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "In Afghanistan reeds 900 doden". Java-bode (in Dutch). 21 June 1956. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Aardbeving eist 300 mensenlevens". Provinciale Drentsche en Asser Courant (in Dutch). 23 June 1956. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Aardbeving Afghanistan erger dan gedacht". De nieuwsgier (in Dutch). 21 June 1956. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Landschap in Afghanistan veranderd. Honderden doden bij aardbeving". De Volkskrant (in Dutch). 15 June 1956. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  8. ↑ "M 7.3 – central Afghanistan". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Nog steeds aardschokken in Afghanistan". De Twentsche Courant Tubantia (in Dutch). 18 June 1956. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 "Honderden doden door aardbeving in Afghanistan". Algemeen Handelsblad (in Dutch). 14 June 1956. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  11. ↑ "Zwarw aardbeving in Afghanistan" [Severe earthquake in Afghanistan]. Java-bode (in Dutch). Agence France-Presse. 12 June 1956. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 "70 doden door aardbeving in Afghanistan". Provinciale Drentsche en Asser Courant (in Dutch). 16 June 1956. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Nieuwe slachtoffers van aardbevingen in Afghanistan". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). 19 June 1956. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  14. ↑ "Afghaanse koning ziek". Algemeen Handelsblad (in Dutch). 14 June 1956. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  15. ↑ "Tot nu toe 270 doden bij aardbeving in Afghanistan". De Tijd (in Dutch). 18 June 1956. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  16. ↑ "De aardbeving in Afghanistan". Het Nieuwsblad van het Zuiden (in Dutch). 18 June 1956. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  17. ↑ "Nederlandsche Roode Kruis helpt Afghanistan". Nieuwsblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). 16 June 1956. Retrieved 7 October 2023.

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