1927 Mendoza earthquake
The 1927 Mendoza earthquake took place in Mendoza Province, in the Republic of Argentina, on 14 April at 06:23:28 UTC.[1][2] It registered a magnitude of 7.1 on the Richter magnitude scale.[3] The earthquake was located at a depth of 110 kilometres (68 mi).[4]
  | |
| UTC time | 1927-04-14 06:23:28 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | n/a |
| USGS-ANSS | n/a |
| Local date | 14 April 1927 |
| Local time | 03:23 |
| Magnitude | ML 7.1 |
| Depth | 110 km (68 mi) |
| Epicenter | 32.0°S 69.5°W |
| Areas affected | Salta, Argentina |
| Max. intensity | VIII (Severe) |
| Casualties | 3 |
Location
The epicenter was located in a zone of instability towards the north of Aconcagua, in the Andes mountain range, 1,100 kilometres (680 mi) from La Plata. From there the seismic waves spread on one side from west to east, destroying the Andean city, and on the other side towards the west where it reached the Chilean Longitudinal Valley and continued along its length to Santiago. The epicenter was farther west than common for seismic movements in Mendoza.[1]
Damage and casualties
The destructive force of the 1927 Mendoza earthquake was measured at VIII on the Mercalli intensity scale.[2] It caused 3 deaths and several injuries.[1] Localities in both Argentina and Chile were affected by the earthquake, including the cities of Mendoza and Santiago.[1][2] The earthquake was felt as far as the provinces of San Juan, La Rioja, Córdoba and Buenos Aires.[3]
Most of the damage in Argentina was concentrated in the Mendozan city of Las Heras.[1] Here buildings and walls collapsed and fissures were formed in the land.[2] The community of Resbalón in the city of Las Heras.[3] Multiple cracks in the earth were noticed in the community of Resguardo and wells were surging water.[3] In the city of Mendoza the earthquake destroyed the government building as well as several schools.[3] Several buildings were damaged in San Juan.[3]
Following the tremors ground water emitted from previously dry areas, forming marshes and affecting the flow of traffic in western and eastern sections of the province.[5]
References
- Tello, Graciela E. (2003). "Sismicidad histórica entre los 32° 30′ – 36° lat. sur y los 68° – 69° 30′ long. oeste, provincia de Mendoza, Argentina" (PDF). Revista Geográfica Venezolana. 44 (1): 125–141.
- "Terremotos históricos ocurridos en la República Argentina". Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- Perucca, Laura P.; Moreiras, Stella M. (26 July 2006). "Liquefaction phenomena associated with historical earthquakes in San Juan and Mendoza Provinces, Argentina" (PDF). Quaternary International. 158: 96–109. Bibcode:2006QuInt.158...96P. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2006.05.023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- "Study of awareness of earthquake risk in the population of Mendoza" (PDF). 11 April 2005. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- Loos, P.A. (1928). "El terremoto Argentino-Chileno del 14 de abril de 1927". Contribuciones Geofisicos. Observatorio Astronómico de la Universidad Nacional de la Plata. II (2).