An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale occurred Monday night at San Juan Three people were injured (including the elderly who were severely shocked) and some areas are experiencing power outages. It felt to varying degrees in Cordoba and Mendoza, and even in social networks, users report that it is also perceived in the city of Buenos Aires.
As I mentioned National Institute for Earthquake Prevention (INPRES)This phenomenon reached its maximum at 23:46:22 and was 8 kilometers deep, while its epicenter was 57 kilometers southwest of the capital, San Juan. After the main earthquake, there were a series of aftershocks that, despite their lower strengths, totaling 4.4, 4.9 and 4.1 on the Richter scale, respectively, which affected mainly during the early hours of Tuesday the city of San Juan and the towns of Cauchit. The agency explained in detail, Merayes, Barial and Media Agua Valley.
Hundreds of users posted on social media videos of the seconds of tension and shock they were exposed to during the tremors.
The National Directorate of Health Emergencies at the Ministry of Health Indicates that the Cuyo region, especially San Juan and Mendoza, and NOA, They are the regions with the greatest seismic risk in Argentina.. There are also some risks in some parts of Patagonia and the center of the country.
Argentina has suffered throughout its history from the consequences of powerful earthquakes. Most destructive it was The San Juan earthquake of 1894The largest seismic movement occurred in the province and the strongest recorded in the country, with a magnitude between 8.6 and 8.9 on the seismograph by magnitude at present. The epicenter was located in the northwest of San Juan County, approximately at 29 ° 48′S 69 ° 00′W, and at a depth of 30 km. It caused massive damage and casualties in the province, as well as in La Rioja, and minor damage in Catamarca, Cordoba, San Luis and Mendoza, more than 500 kilometers from the epicenter..
As a direct result 52 people died in San Juan. In the capital, the cathedral had a broken left bell tower, the vaulting opening and the public clock that had been in operation since 1824 had stopped for the first time. The temples of Santo Domingo, San Agustin, Dolores and San Pantaleon were severely damaged. Many homes were left in ruins, as were public buildings, such as the Government House, the Old Provincial Legislature Building, the Public Market, and the Franklin Library.
Years later, the province would return to its own right The San Juan earthquake occurred on January 15, 1944 at 8:52 PM (local time), with its epicenter 20 km north of the city. Consonant, near La Laja, Albardón province. The size of the surface wave (Ms) was estimated at 7.4 degrees, the instantaneous magnitude (Mw), calculated years later between 6.9 and 7.0 and the depth between 11 and 16 km. This earthquake in Argentina is considered the most destructive natural event ever recorded in the country’s short history. Its maximum intensity was 9 on the modified Mercalli scale.
Also during the twentieth century, San Juan was hit again by a major earthquake: On November 23, 1977, one of the biggest disasters occurred in our country: the Cauchit earthquake. It caused great physical and material damage. So Every November 23 Argentine Civil Defense Day is celebrated, The body that protects the population in the event of natural disasters, disasters, accidents or widespread hazards in times of war.
How is the intensity of earthquakes measured?
user Richter Seismic Scale, Also known as the Local Volume Scale (ML). It is an arbitrary logarithmic scale that specifies a number to estimate the energy emitted from an earthquake, named after the American seismologist Charles Francis Richter.
World seismologists use this scale to determine the strength of earthquakes of magnitude between 2.0 and 6.9 and 0 to 400 kilometers.
What is the strongest earthquake in history? It happened on May 22, 1960 in Valdivia, southern Chile, with a magnitude of 9.5 on the Richter scale, leaving 2,300 dead and 2 million homeless.
Magnitude and intensity of earthquakes (graph: Marcelo Regalado)
How should we progress in facing a phenomenon of this kind?
Before the earthquake:
Have flashlights with batteries or spare batteries.
– Bottled drinking water, medicine and basic foodstuffs to be able to supply you for rescue and emergency authorities to provide services in the area.
– Know the situation in which some sensitive installations, in the event of damage such as electrical installations, gas installation and storage of chemical products, can be very dangerous in the event of tipping and breaking if there is severe exposure.
Always quick access to the official emergency service and civil defense numbers.
Seismograph detects an earthquake (YouTube @ paCiencia la mía)
During its development:
Seeking to protect themselves if they are inside a building or house, such as door frames, or under solid furniture, columns, or load-bearing walls.
Keep away from windows or items that could cause shrapnel or that could fall and cause injury.
Do not use elevators if evacuating the building is necessary.
– Do not use light sources that generate sparks or flames because during an event of this type there may be a gas leak or combustible fumes.
Exiting from inside the buildings towards the main road away from the buildings or moving to the evacuation point established by the authorities.
– In the event that an earthquake develops while driving the car, stay inside it and avoid approaching light poles or power lines, and avoid bridges or low levels.
Never lose your cool.
After the event:
Follow all instructions indicated by the emergency teams
Avoid returning to structures until the authorities instruct
It is important to be patient and provide peace of mind in the family group, and to avoid the increased stress this event has already created.
Keep reading:
The earthquake occurred three days after the anniversary of the 1944 San Juan earthquake
Sergio Unac, Governor of San Juan: “We had contacts with the national government”
A seismologist explained why the earthquake was felt in several provinces
