1989 Malawi earthquake
UTC time | 1989-03-10 21:49:47 |
---|---|
ISC event | 409791 |
USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
Local date | 10 March 1989 |
Local time | 23:49:47 |
Magnitude | 6.3 Mw[1] |
Depth | 28 km (17 mi)[1] |
Epicenter | 13°44′S 34°25′E / 13.74°S 34.41°E[2] |
Type | Dip-slip[3] |
Areas affected | Malawi |
Max. intensity | MMI VIII (Severe) [4][5] |
Casualties | At least 9 people killed and 100 injured[6] |
The 1989 Malawi earthquake occurred on 10 March in central Malawi, with a moment magnitude of 6.3 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe).[4] It was preceded by a number of foreshocks, the largest being a 5.7 Mw shock on the previous day. The earthquake was felt strongly throughout central Malawi, and also felt in parts of Mozambique (Niassa and Tete Provinces) and Zambia (Eastern Province). Nine people were killed, with many others injured or left homeless.
Geology
The 1989 Malawi earthquake was the result of a
The
The earthquake triggered
Damage and casualties
Nine people are known to have been killed as a result of the earthquake – six in
Urban areas were worst affected by the quake, as houses were more likely to be built of brick and thus more susceptible to cracking. The major building with the most visible damage was the Nanjoka Railway Station complex, which developed severe cracks in its walls and was subsequently abandoned. The Chitala Farm Institute, an
Aftermath
In the same month as the earthquake, Malawi was hit by a cyclone and suffered severe flooding. The combination of natural disasters left over 200,000 people homeless and led to the government appealing for international assistance.[8] A field study conducted in October 1989 concluded that the March 1989 earthquake "should be treated as an eye opener, drawing attention to the potential of medium-size earthquakes hitting major cities in Malawi".[9]
References
- ^ a b ISC (2015), ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1900–2009), Version 2.0, International Seismological Centre
- ^ .
- ^ USGS (4 September 2009), PAGER-CAT Earthquake Catalog, Version 2008_06.1, United States Geological Survey
- ^ .
- ^ USGS (1 December 2008), EXPO-CAT Earthquake Catalog, Version 2007-12, United States Geological Survey
- ^ a b "Today in Earthquake History-March 10". United States Geological Survey. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
- ^ .
- ISBN 978-0313302473.
- .
External links
- M 6.2 - Malawi – United States Geological Survey
- The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.