1953 Concepción earthquake


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The 1953 Concepción earthquake occurred on May 6 at 17:16 UTC (13:16 local time). The epicenter was located offshore Biobío Region, Chile. It had a magnitude of 7.6, or 7.6.[2] Twelve people were reported dead in this earthquake.[3]

1953 Concepción earthquake

1953 Concepción earthquake is located in South America

1953 Concepción earthquake

UTC time1953-05-06 17:16:48
ISC event891664
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local dateMay 6, 1953
Local time13:16:48
Magnitude 7.6
Depth64 km (40 mi) [1]
Epicenter36°30′S 72°36′W / 36.5°S 72.6°W [1]
Areas affectedChile
Casualties12

In Concepción, 15% of the buildings were damaged. Electricity and gas were not affected. However, the electricity service was suspended as a precaution.[3]

In Chillán, the intensity reached MM X. Many houses were destroyed. The electricity, telegraph, and telephone services were interrupted.[3]

In Tomé, several houses were damaged, and many families stayed in the open.[3]

This earthquake was located close to the 1939 Chillán earthquake. However, the focal mechanism of the 1953 Concepción earthquake was reverse faulting, while that of the 1939 Chillán earthquake was normal faulting. It was not clear whether the 1953 Concepción earthquake was an interplate or intraplate earthquake.[2]

  1. ^ a b Engdahl, E. R.; Vallaseñor, A. (2002). "Global seismicity: 1900–1999" (PDF). International Handbook of Earthquake & Engineering Seismology. Part A, Volume 81A (First ed.). Academic Press. p. 680. ISBN 978-0124406520.
  2. ^ a b Beck, S; Barrientos, S; Kausel, E; Reyes, M (1998), "Source characteristics of historic earthquakes along the central Chile subduction Askew et alzone" (PDF), Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 11 (2): 115–129, Bibcode:1998JSAES..11..115B, doi:10.1016/S0895-9811(98)00005-4
  3. ^ a b c d "6 de Mayo de 1953". www2.udec.cl.