2019 Peru earthquake

An earthquake measuring Mw 8.0 struck Peru and the surrounding areas on 26 May 2019 at 02:41 local time. It had a maximum perceived intensity of VII (Very strong) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale in the towns of Yurimaguas and Lagunas.[2] Two people died and a further 30 were injured. It was the strongest earthquake in 2019 by magnitude.[3]

2019 Peru earthquake
2019 Peru earthquake is located in Peru
2019 Peru earthquake
2019 Peru earthquake is located in South America
2019 Peru earthquake
UTC time2019-05-26 07:41:14
ISC event615748456
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local date2019-05-26 (2019-05-26)
Local time02:41:12
Duration60 seconds[1]
Magnitude8.0 Mww
Depth122.8 km (76.3 mi)
Epicenter5.796°S 75.298°W / -5.796; -75.298
TypeDip-slip (normal)
Areas affectedPeru
Ecuador
Max. intensityVII (Very strong)[2]
Casualties2 dead, 30 injured

Tectonic setting

Peru lies above the destructive plate boundary where the Nazca Plate subducts beneath the South American Plate. The plates converge at a rate of 70 mm per year. The country has been affected by many large megathrust earthquakes caused by slip along the plate interface, such as the 1868 Arica earthquake. There are also large earthquakes of intermediate depth caused by faulting within the downgoing Nazca Plate.[4]

Earthquake

The earthquake lasted for about 60 seconds, with most of the energy being released within a period of about 40–60 seconds.[1] The earthquake's epicenter was in the northern region of Peru, near Ecuador. This intermediate depth event (122.8 km) was caused by normal faulting within the Nazca Plate. Out of the two possible solutions of the moment tensor, analysis of seismic waveforms suggests that the causative fault dips towards the east.[1]

The earthquake occurred in a region of the Nazca Plate where it transits from flat slab subduction to steep subduction. At this location, the plate bends to a steeper angle. An analysis of the event indicate rupture along a fault that measured 205 km by 105 km with an average rupture propagation velocity of 2.5 km/s. The rupture generated a maximum slip of 6.7 meters at the northern part of the rupture area. Two episodes of seismic energy release occurred within a span of 115 seconds. InSAR data showed that the quake produced 47 cm of subsidence at the surface of the earth, north of the epicenter.[2]

Exactly three years after the earthquake occurred, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Department of Puno. The earthquake was felt in Peru, Chile, Brazil and Bolivia.[5]

Damage and casualties

Two people were killed and 15 others were injured in Peru, while a further 15 people were injured in Ecuador.[6][7]

Peru

The President of Peru, Martín Vizcarra, called for calm and said that he, along with his transportation minister, would evaluate the damage to roadways. Vizcarra also stated that other officials would evaluate damage to structures and any effects on a nearby reservoir.[8] Many people evacuated homes and stores when the earthquake struck late at night. Some buildings, streets, and bridges suffered damage from the earthquake.[9]

The earthquake damaged 833 homes and left 404 of them uninhabitable. 38 health facilities were damaged, with 4 of them being rendered unusable. 111 schools were affected with 7 being put out of action.[10]

Ecuador

Some damage was reported from the parts of Ecuador closest to the epicenter.[9]

See also

References
  1. ANSS: Peru 2019, Finite Fault (accessed 2019-05-28).
  2. Cesar Jimenez; Nestor Luna; Nick Moreno (June 2021). "Seismic source characteristics of the intraslab 2019 northern Peru earthquake (Mw 8.1)". Journal of Seismology. 25 (3): 863–874. doi:10.1007/s10950-021-09996-x. S2CID 233016270.
  3. "USGS worldwide earthquakes M7+, arranged strongest to weakest". earthquake.usgs.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-03-13. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  4. ANSS. "Peru 2019: M 8.0 - 75km SSE of Lagunas, Peru". Comprehensive Catalog. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
  5. "M 7.2 - 13 km WNW of Azángaro, Peru". earthquake.usgs.gov. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  6. ADN 40 (27 May 2019). "Aumentan a dos los muertos por terremoto en Perú". ADN 40 (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  7. "Sismo en Perú dejó en Ecuador 15 heridos y viviendas afectadas". El Universo (in Spanish). 2019-05-26. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  8. Briceno, Franklin (26 May 2019). "Magnitude 8 earthquake strikes Amazon jungle in Peru". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  9. "Peru earthquake leaves one dead and several injured". CNN. 26 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  10. Government of Peru (30 May 2019). "Peru earthquake: Number of affected houses rises to 833, 404 uninhabitable". Retrieved 31 May 2019.
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