1981 Playa Azul earthquake
UTC time | 1981-10-25 03:22:15 |
---|---|
ISC event | 610441 |
USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
Local date | October 24, 1981 |
Local time | 21:22 |
Magnitude | 7.2 Mw 7.3 Ms |
Depth | 33 km |
Epicenter | 18°03′N 102°05′W / 18.05°N 102.08°W |
Areas affected | Mexico |
Max. intensity | MMI VIII (Severe) |
Casualties | 3–9 killed, 28 injured |
The 1981 Playa Azul earthquake occurred on October 24, 1981, at 21:22 local time (03:22 UTC on October 25). It was located near Playa Azul, Michoacán, Mexico. The magnitude of the earthquake was Mw 7.2, or Ms 7.3.[1] Three deaths were reported, two from Michoacán and one from Mexico City. Some buildings were damaged in both Michoacán and Mexico City. A small tsunami was registered in Acapulco with a maximum height of 9 cm.[2]
Tectonic setting
The southwestern coast of Mexico lies above the
Earthquake
This earthquake was an interplate earthquake that occurred in the central part of the Michoacán seismic gap.[6] The 1985 Michoacán earthquake broke the two remaining parts of the Michoacán gap, i.e. those to the north and south of the 1981 Playa Azul earthquake rupture zone.[5] The 1981 Playa Azul earthquake had a focal mechanism of reverse faulting from a shallow-dipping thrust fault.[7] The maximum slip of this earthquake was estimated to be about 4.04 m.[8] According to the calculation of C. Mendoza, along the dipping interface the area of maximum slip was concentrated below the hypocenter, and there was another area of significant slip, of about 1 metre (3.3 ft), above the hypocenter.[9]
Damage
Michoacan suffered widespread damage with some buildings also affected in Mexico City. There were 2 deaths and 17 people injured in Michoacán and 1 death and 11 people injured in Mexico City.[10] One source reports a total of 9 deaths associated with this earthquake.[11]
Power outages and telephone service interruptions were widespread in Mexico City.[12] Thousands of people got stuck in darkness in the Mexico City Metro.[13]
See also
References
- ^ Engdahl, E.R.; Villaseñor A. (2002). "Global seismicity: 1900–1999" (PDF). In Lee W.H.K.; Kanamori H.; Jennings P.; Kissinger K. (eds.). International Handbook of Earthquake Engineering Seismology, Part A. Vol. 81A. International Association of Seismology and Physics of Earth's Interiors. p. 684.
- ^ Sanchez Devora, A.J.; Farreras Sanz S.F. (1993). "Catalog of Tsunamis on the Western Coast of Mexico" (PDF). SE-50. World data Center A for Solid Earth Geophsics. p. 36. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- . Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- S2CID 73715203. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- ^ doi:10.1029/gl013i006p00569. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2010-07-23. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- ^ Havskov, J.; Singh S.K.; Nava E.; Dominguez T. & Rodriguez M. (1983). "Playa Azul, Michoacán, Mexico, earthquake of 25 October 1981 (Ms = 7.3)". Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. 73 (2): 449–457. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- ^ Lopez, M.R.M. "Playa Azul Slip" (in Spanish). Centro de Geociencias. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- . Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- ^ United States Geological Survey (January 5, 2010). "Significant Earthquakes of the World 1981". Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- ^ National Geophysical Data Center. "Significant Earthquake". Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- ^ "Earthquake Hits Mexico City; Power Outages Widespread". The New York Times. Associated Press. October 5, 1981. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- ^ http://digaohm.semar.gob.mx/imagenes/CAT/Historia_tsunamis.pdf[permanent dead link]
External links
- The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.