1959 Coatzacoalcos earthquake
UTC time | 1959-08-26 08:25:37 |
---|---|
ISC event | 882734 |
USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
Local date | August 26, 1959 |
Local time | 02:25:37 CST |
Magnitude | 6.4 Mw [1] |
Depth | 21.0 km (13 mi) |
Epicenter | 18°13′N 94°25′W / 18.22°N 94.42°W |
Type | Thrust |
Areas affected | Mexico |
Max. intensity | MMI VIII (Severe) |
Aftershocks | August 26: 9:00 am, 12:00 pm, 9:30 pm August 27: 3:45 am[2] |
Casualties | 25 dead, 200 injured |
The 1959 Coatzacoalcos earthquake (also known as the Jáltipan earthquake) occurred at 02:25 local time on August 26 near the Mexican state of Veracruz. The earthquake measured 6.4 Mw at a depth of 21 km (13 mi), and had a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). It had an epicenter immediately off the coast of Coatzacoalcos (in the Gulf of Mexico). The shallow back-arc thrust faulting earthquake damaged the cities of Acayucan, Coatzacoalcos, Jáltipan and Minatitlán. A total of 25 people died, including 10 from Jáltipan while a further 200 were injured. The Middle America Trench, a subduction zone that borders the southwestern coast of Mexico and Central America, accounts for much of the seismicity in Mexico. The eastern side of the country near the Gulf of Mexico rarely experiences large earthquakes although they have been recorded around the Veracruz area, where seismicity is higher compared to other parts of the gulf. Seismicity in the gulf is attributed to back-arc compression due to subduction.
Tectonic setting
Mexico is one of the most seismically active regions in the world; located at the boundary of at least three tectonic plates. The west coast of Mexico lies at a
Earthquake
The earthquake had a
The Gulf of Mexico, where the Jáltipan earthquake occurred, is a region of low seismicity. This area represents a passive margin and is considered aseismic. At the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, intermediate-depth earthquakes associated with the subducting Cocos Plate are common. However, there is a region of shallow seismicity around Veracruz and Tabasco in the southwestern part of the gulf where earthquakes are of low magnitude. Shallow seismic activity on the isthmus is associated with back-arc compression within the shallow crust. Deformation of the crust is accommodated by crustal shortening on thrust faults. This compressive force is brought on by west coast subduction, as well as subduction of the Tehuantepec Ridge.[5]
Damage
The combined effects of structural or foundation failure and soil liquefaction earned the earthquake a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). Intensity VIII was assigned in Jáltipan, Coatzacoalcos and Minatitlán, where these effects were observed. Building failures occurred at Coatzacoalcos and Minatitlán. Ground subsidence due to liquefaction was observed at the port of Coatzacoalcos.[4]
Altogether, 450 homes and other dwellings, a school, two churches and a railroad station were total losses.[6] Twenty-five people died and 200 were injured.[7] Jáltipan was nearly destroyed—10 people were killed and 138 were injured—including 45 in serious condition.[2][7] A navy workshop in Coatzacoalcos subsided by a meter, cracking its floor.[8] Petrol storage facilities at the port were damaged.[7] A highway and the city streets suffered cracks. The tower of the San Francisco de Asís church was severely compromised and needed to be demolished. In Minatitlán, an oil pipeline ruptured and spilled. In Acayucan, 20 percent of the city's buildings were demolished and there were 20 wounded. The highway between Coatzacoalcos and Minatitlán were filled with cracks up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) wide and deep.[6] From Santa Marta, residents reported a large flame towering 60 m (200 ft) over the Sierra de los Tuxtlas range.[2]
Aftermath
Volunteers rushed to the
See also
References
- ^ ISC-OB Event 882734 [IRIS].
- ^ a b c d Martínez, F. C. (31 August 2017). "Cuando un terremoto devastó el municipio de Jáltipan". Alor Noticias (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ Benz, H. M.; Dart, R. L.; Villaseñor, A.; Hayes, G. P.; Tarr, A. C.; Furlong, K. P.; Rhea, S., Seismicity of the Earth 1900–2010 Mexico and Vicinity (Open-File Report 2010-1083-F), U.S. Geological Survey
- ^ .
- ^ ISBN 9780813723341.
- ^ a b de Cossias, R. D. (1960), "Foundation failures during the Coatzacoalcos (Mexico) earthquake of 26 August 1959" (PDF), Proc. 2nd World Conf. on Earthquake Engineering (conference)
- ^ doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
- ^ Marsal, R. J. (1961). "Behavior of a Sandy Uniform Soil During the Jaltipan Earthquake, Mexico" (PDF). Proc. Fifth Int. Conf. Soil Mech. And Foundation Eng. 1. International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering: 229–234.
Further reading
- Luna Bauza, C. (1992): Sismos en el estado de Veracruz (Gobierno del Estado de Veracruz-Llave, Mexico). Spanish
- Merino y Coronado, J. (1960). "El terremoto de Jaltipan, Ver. del 26 de Agosto de 1959" [The earthquake of Jaltipan, Veracruz on August 26, 1959]. Anales del Instituto de Geofísica. 6: 89–137. ISSN 0076-7182.
External links
- The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.