Earthquake in Ecuador

Andrea Moreno

Details:

– Date: April 16, 2016

– Magnitude: 7.8 Mw

– Depth: 19.2 km (11.9 mi)

– Epicenter: 0.371°N 79.940°W

– Areas affected: Ecuador, Colombia, Peru

– Casualties: 659 killed, 42 missing and 27,732 injured

Tectonic Setting

– Ecuador lies above the destructive plate boundary where the Nazca Plate is subducting beneath the South American Plate. The convergence rate between the plates in Ecuador is 61 millimetres (2.4 in) per year. The depth, location and focal mechanism of the earthquake are all consistent with rupture along the plate interface in the form of a megathrust earthquake. A major earthquake in 1906 ruptured the plate interface for at least 400 km immediately northeast of the 2016 event.

Casualties– At least 659 people were killed and more than 27,732 others were injured in the

earthquake. It was the worst natural disaster to hit Ecuador since the 1949 Ambato earthquake. Over 300 fatalities occurred in the cities of Manta and Portoviejo, both of which are located in Manabi province. President Rafael Correa stated that the reconstruction would cost "billions of dollars."

– The number of fatalities was estimated as several hundred within thirty minutes of the earthquake. By April 24, the fatality count had reached 654, and 8,340 had been reported as injured.

– In Colombia, near the city of Cali, one miner died as a result of the earthquake, becoming the only reported death outside of Ecuador.

Aftermath– In response to the earthquake, a state of emergency was declared throughout

the country and the national guard was mobilized to assist in rescue and relief efforts. Approximately 10,000 military personnel and 3,500 police officers were deployed. President Rafael Correa cut his trip to Italy short in order to return to Ecuador. Hydroelectric dams and oil pipelines were shut down as a precautionary measure. On April 20, a 6.1–6.2 magnitude aftershock struck 15 miles west of Muisne around 3:30AM, local time. The quake had a depth of about 9 miles.

Images of the Damage

Links:

– www.wikipedia.com

– www.google.com

– Andrea Moreno