2018 Peru earthquake
USGS shakemap for the event
2018 Peru earthquake is located in Peru
2018 Peru earthquake
UTC time2018-01-14 09:18:45
ISC event611648221
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local date14 January 2018 (2018-01-14)
Local time04:18
Magnitude7.1 Mww[1]
Depth39.0 km[1]
Epicenter15°46′34″S 74°44′38″W / 15.776°S 74.744°W / -15.776; -74.744
TypeThrust fault
Areas affectedPeru
Max. intensityVII (Very strong)
Tsunami15 cm (5.9 in)[2]
Casualties2 dead, 139 injured

An earthquake struck Peru at 04:18:45 PET (09:18:45 UTC) on 14 January 2018. It had a magnitude of Mww 7.1 with a maximum perceived intensity of VII (very strong) on the Mercalli intensity scale.[3] Two deaths have been reported, with a further 139 people injured. Widespread damage to adobe houses was reported with 443 homes being destroyed.[4] An initial tsunami warning was later rescinded.[5][6]

Background

Earthquakes are common in Peru, especially in the Arequipa coastal area of Peru. This particular earthquake was a result of thrust faulting on the destructive boundary between the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate.[1] As evidenced by the 2007 earthquake, many homes are not built to any type of standard making them prone to significant damage. Earthquakes can threaten industry as well as the population. Many of the copper mines are vulnerable to quakes, but there were no reports of damage to them.[7]

Earthquake

On Sunday, 14 January at 04:18 local time, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Peru. The earthquake was positioned in the Pacific Ocean near the coast at a depth of around 39 km (24 mi), about 38 km (24 mi) south-southwest of Acari.[1] There was no danger of a tsunami to the coastal area. Residents of Lomas, a town on the cost, were evacuated after feeling an aftershock.

The earthquake left two dead, and over a hundred and twenty injured. The earthquake caused some homes and roads in remote areas to collapse. Damage to roads delayed the arrival of help to the affected rural zones. Several boroughs were without electricity.

A tsunami was observed with heights of 15 cm in San Juan.[2]

Aftermath

According to the Earthquake Impact Database[4]
Deaths Injured Displaced Houses/Buildings Damaged Houses/Buildings Destroyed
2 139 2000 1720 443

A 55-year-old man was fatally crushed by a rock in the city of Yauca located in the region of Arequipa. No information was released on the second victim except that they were in the same region as the first victim.[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 ANSS: Peru 2018 .
  2. 1 2 "Tsunami Event". www.ngdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  3. ↑ ANSS. "M 7.1 - 40km SSW of Acari, Peru". Comprehensive Catalog. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
  4. 1 2 "Earthquake Impact Database 2018". Google Docs. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  5. ↑ BBC (2018-01-14). "Peru: Earthquake leaves two dead and dozens injured". BBC News.
  6. ↑ "Deadly earthquake shakes Peru". CNN. 14 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  7. ↑ "1 Dead as Earthquake Strikes Peru". The New York Times. Reuters. 2018. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  8. ↑ McLaughlin, Eliott C. "Deadly earthquake shakes Peru". CNN. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
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