2002 Hindu Kush earthquakes
UTC time | 2002-03-03 12:08:19 |
---|---|
2002-03-25 14:56:33 | |
ISC event | 5267309 |
2947182 | |
USGS-ANSS | |
ComCat | |
ComCat | |
Local date | |
March 3, 2002 | |
March 25, 2002 | |
Local time | 16:38 |
19:26 | |
Magnitude | 7.4 Mw |
6.1 Mw | |
Depth | March 3 – 226 km (140 mi) 8 km (5 mi) |
Epicenter | 36°30′N 70°29′E / 36.5°N 70.48°E |
Type | Dip-slip |
Max. intensity | March 3 - MMI VI (Strong)[1]
March 25 - MMI VII (Very strong)[2] |
Casualties |
|
The 2002 Hindu Kush earthquakes struck in northern Afghanistan during the month of March. At least 166 people were killed with a very large and intermediate-depth mainshock on March 3. Three weeks later, at least 1,200 were killed during a moderate but shallow event that had a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong). The M7.4 and M6.1 reverse events were focused in the Hindu Kush mountain range area.[1][2]
Tectonic setting
Northern Afghanistan lies within the broad zone of continuing
Smaller shallow focus earthquakes are also observed in the region, particularly associated with north–south trending zones of right lateral strike-slip, such as the Chaman Fault, with an increasing degree of shortening to the north, together accommodating the highly oblique convergence between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate.[5]
Earthquakes
The earthquake on March 3 had a magnitude of 7.4 Mw , with a hypocentral depth of 225.6 km. The focal mechanism is consistent with reverse faulting within subducting oceanic crust. Comparison with similar earthquakes in 1993 and 2015, which have very similar depths and epicenters, suggests that the major component of the slip in all three events occurred on the same part of the fault.[4]
The earthquake on March 25 had a magnitude of 6.1 Mw , with a hypocentral depth of 8.0 km. It had a reverse fault mechanism that occurred on one of two possible moderately-dipping north–south trending faults.
Damage
March 3 event
At 12:08:19 UTC a 7.4 tremor hit an area 65 km (40 mi) S of
March 25 event
At 14:56:33 UTC, a magnitude 6.1 tremor hit an area 160 km (99 mi) southwest of Feyzabad, Afghanistan. The United Nations estimated approximately 1,200 people dead and 20,000 families affected. This was a shallow focus event and was felt strongly in much of northern Afghanistan. Also felt in the Islamabad-Peshawar area, Pakistan and at Dushanbe, Tajikistan.[2] In Nahrin, many homes collapsed; the maximum Modified Mercalli intensity was assigned VII (Very strong). The high death toll and heavy damage was attributed to poor construction—most homes were constructed of mud brick.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b c USGS. "M7.4 - Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan". United States Geological Survey.
- ^ a b c USGS. "M6.1 - Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan". United States Geological Survey.
- doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
- ^ S2CID 31948667.
- S2CID 130945532.
- .
Sources
- Yeats, R. S.; Madden, C. (2003), "Damage from the Nahrin, Afghanistan, Earthquake of 25 March 2002", Seismological Research Letters, 74 (3): 305–311,
External links
- The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.
- ReliefWeb's main page for this event.