The western coast of South America is a section of the Circum-Pacific Belt (seismic belt), prone to high magnitude earthquakes. The Andes range and the Peru - Chile trench have experienced some of the most destructive temblors in history, one such being the 1970 Peru earthquake.
The 1970 Peru earthquake, also known as the Great Peruvian Earthquake or the 1970 Ancash earthquake, was a high magnitude undersea quake that rocked the Peruvian regions of Ancash and La Libertad, on the afternoon of 31st May, 1970.
Intensity of the Earthquake
The earthquake, which lasted for about 45 seconds, occurred at 15:23:31 local time. The epicenter of this quake was located 35 km off Peru coast in the Pacific Ocean. The quake having a magnitude of 7.9 to 8.0 on the Richter scale, showed an intensity of 8 on the Mercalli intensity scale, used to measure the intensity of the earthquakes. Tremors were also felt in the neighboring countries, Brazil and Ecuador to be precise.
The northern wall of the Nevado Huascarán, a mountain in the Yungay province, was destabilized due to the earthquake. This destabilization triggered an avalanche that buried the towns of Yungay and Ranrahirca under rock debris, ice and snow. A 3000 ft wide and 1 mile long mass of glacial ice and rock detached itself from the mountain. It skidded for approximately 11 miles and came down on Yungay town. This mass of ice was moving at a speed of more than 100 miles an hour. On its way, it collected glacial deposits, rocks and mud, and by the time it came down on the village at the foot of the mountain, it comprised of 80 million cubic meters of matter, that buried the entire town beneath it.
Effects of the Earthquake
An area of about 83,000 sq km, extending over Ancash and La Libertad regions, was affected due to this seismic movement. Over 3 million people were affected by this earthquake. Around 74,194 individuals lost their lives in this natural calamity, as many as 25,600 went missing and 143,331 were injured. More than a million people were left homeless. At least 20,000 people died in the landslide in Yungay town alone. The quake had a huge impact on the infrastructure of the region. Almost the entire communication system was destroyed. The economic loss was estimated to be more than half a billion USD. All the basic facilities were either seriously damaged or totally destroyed. More than 80% buildings in the cities of Chimbote, Carhuaz and Recuay were razed to the ground. The coastal areas were the most affected. Cities like Chimbote, Casma, Huarmey and Supe suffered large scale damage, while cities like Huaraz, Caraz and Aija were partly damaged. The Cañón del Pato hydroelectricity generator was damaged due to the excessive flooding of River Santa. Damage induced to the Pan American highway resulted in delay of humanitarian aid to the affected areas.
The entire town of Yungay buried beneath snow and rock debris, has been preserved as a national cemetery. As a remembrance of this quake, 31st of May is observed as the Natural Disaster Education and Reflection Day in Peru. Every year, an earthquake drill is practiced in the schools of Peru on this day, to commemorate this calamity, in which thousands of people lost their lives.
Even though other parts of the world have experienced earthquakes of higher magnitudes, the havoc caused by the landslide and floods triggered by this earthquake, make it one of the most devastating natural calamities ever to befall mankind.
By Abhijit Naik
World-Wide Earthquake Locator - The University of Edinburgh
The Edinburgh Earth Observatory provides up-to-date information and detailed dynamic maps of earthquakes across the world within 24 hours of their ...
The 1970 Peru earthquake, also known as the Great Peruvian Earthquake or the 1970 Ancash earthquake, was a high magnitude undersea quake that rocked the Peruvian regions of Ancash and La Libertad, on the afternoon of 31st May, 1970.
Intensity of the Earthquake
The earthquake, which lasted for about 45 seconds, occurred at 15:23:31 local time. The epicenter of this quake was located 35 km off Peru coast in the Pacific Ocean. The quake having a magnitude of 7.9 to 8.0 on the Richter scale, showed an intensity of 8 on the Mercalli intensity scale, used to measure the intensity of the earthquakes. Tremors were also felt in the neighboring countries, Brazil and Ecuador to be precise.
The northern wall of the Nevado Huascarán, a mountain in the Yungay province, was destabilized due to the earthquake. This destabilization triggered an avalanche that buried the towns of Yungay and Ranrahirca under rock debris, ice and snow. A 3000 ft wide and 1 mile long mass of glacial ice and rock detached itself from the mountain. It skidded for approximately 11 miles and came down on Yungay town. This mass of ice was moving at a speed of more than 100 miles an hour. On its way, it collected glacial deposits, rocks and mud, and by the time it came down on the village at the foot of the mountain, it comprised of 80 million cubic meters of matter, that buried the entire town beneath it.
Effects of the Earthquake
An area of about 83,000 sq km, extending over Ancash and La Libertad regions, was affected due to this seismic movement. Over 3 million people were affected by this earthquake. Around 74,194 individuals lost their lives in this natural calamity, as many as 25,600 went missing and 143,331 were injured. More than a million people were left homeless. At least 20,000 people died in the landslide in Yungay town alone. The quake had a huge impact on the infrastructure of the region. Almost the entire communication system was destroyed. The economic loss was estimated to be more than half a billion USD. All the basic facilities were either seriously damaged or totally destroyed. More than 80% buildings in the cities of Chimbote, Carhuaz and Recuay were razed to the ground. The coastal areas were the most affected. Cities like Chimbote, Casma, Huarmey and Supe suffered large scale damage, while cities like Huaraz, Caraz and Aija were partly damaged. The Cañón del Pato hydroelectricity generator was damaged due to the excessive flooding of River Santa. Damage induced to the Pan American highway resulted in delay of humanitarian aid to the affected areas.
The entire town of Yungay buried beneath snow and rock debris, has been preserved as a national cemetery. As a remembrance of this quake, 31st of May is observed as the Natural Disaster Education and Reflection Day in Peru. Every year, an earthquake drill is practiced in the schools of Peru on this day, to commemorate this calamity, in which thousands of people lost their lives.
Even though other parts of the world have experienced earthquakes of higher magnitudes, the havoc caused by the landslide and floods triggered by this earthquake, make it one of the most devastating natural calamities ever to befall mankind.
By Abhijit Naik
World-Wide Earthquake Locator - The University of Edinburgh
The Edinburgh Earth Observatory provides up-to-date information and detailed dynamic maps of earthquakes across the world within 24 hours of their ...
