2006 Mendoza earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 2006 Mendoza earthquake was a medium-intensity seismic movement
in the province
of Mendoza
, Argentina
. It took place at 11:03 AM (UTC-3
) on 5 August 2006, and had a magnitude of 5.7 in the Richter scale
. Its hypocenter
was centered at 33°13′48"S 68°56′24"W, 35 km south-southeast of Mendoza
, the provincial capital, exactly at the town of Ugarteche, Luján de Cuyo, and at a depth of 33 km.
The earthquake was felt in the provinces of Mendoza (V–VI in the Mercalli intensity scale
), San Juan
, San Luis
(IV Mercalli), La Rioja
, and Córdoba
(III Mercalli). It damaged about 600 buildings in the Greater Mendoza metropolitan area
(mostly either precarious or old), as well as causing brief interruptions in the supply of electric power
and mobile phone
communications. Only a few wounded people were reported; there were no fatalities.
On the following day a new, a minor earthquake (magnitude 3.7) was recorded about 5 km from the previous location, at a depth of 90 km. It was felt as grade II–III in the Mercalli scale in the city of Mendoza.
The area is the most seismically active in Argentina. This seismic event was the largest in 20 years; the 1985 Mendoza earthquake
(magnitude 6.0) caused 6 casualties and thousands of damaged houses and was centered at Godoy Cruz
, just 4 km at south of Mendoza.
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
in the province
Provinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
of Mendoza
Mendoza Province
The Province of Mendoza is a province of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region. It borders to the north with San Juan, the south with La Pampa and Neuquén, the east with San Luis, and to the west with the republic of Chile; the international limit is...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. It took place at 11:03 AM (UTC-3
UTC-3
UTC−03:00 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of −03:00.-As standard time :*Suriname*Falkland Islands*French Guiana*Brazil - East Northern and Northeastern States...
) on 5 August 2006, and had a magnitude of 5.7 in the Richter scale
Richter magnitude scale
The expression Richter magnitude scale refers to a number of ways to assign a single number to quantify the energy contained in an earthquake....
. Its hypocenter
Hypocenter
The hypocenter refers to the site of an earthquake or a nuclear explosion...
was centered at 33°13′48"S 68°56′24"W, 35 km south-southeast of Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes. As of the , Mendoza's population was 110,993...
, the provincial capital, exactly at the town of Ugarteche, Luján de Cuyo, and at a depth of 33 km.
The earthquake was felt in the provinces of Mendoza (V–VI in the Mercalli intensity scale
Mercalli intensity scale
The Mercalli intensity scale is a seismic scale used for measuring the intensity of an earthquake. It measures the effects of an earthquake, and is distinct from the moment magnitude M_w usually reported for an earthquake , which is a measure of the energy released...
), San Juan
San Juan Province (Argentina)
San Juan is a province of Argentina, located in the western part of the country. Neighbouring provinces are, moving clockwise from the north, La Rioja, San Luis and Mendoza. It borders with Chile at the west....
, San Luis
San Luis Province
San Luis is a province of Argentina located near the geographical center of the country . Neighboring provinces are, from the north clockwise, La Rioja, Córdoba, La Pampa, Mendoza and San Juan.-History:...
(IV Mercalli), La Rioja
La Rioja Province (Argentina)
La Rioja is a one of the provinces of Argentina and is located in the west of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise Catamarca, Córdoba, San Luis and San Juan.-History:...
, and Córdoba
Córdoba Province (Argentina)
Córdoba is a province of Argentina, located in the center of the country. Neighboring provinces are : Santiago del Estero, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires, La Pampa, San Luis, La Rioja and Catamarca...
(III Mercalli). It damaged about 600 buildings in the Greater Mendoza metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
(mostly either precarious or old), as well as causing brief interruptions in the supply of electric power
Electric power
Electric power is the rate at which electric energy is transferred by an electric circuit. The SI unit of power is the watt.-Circuits:Electric power, like mechanical power, is represented by the letter P in electrical equations...
and mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
communications. Only a few wounded people were reported; there were no fatalities.
On the following day a new, a minor earthquake (magnitude 3.7) was recorded about 5 km from the previous location, at a depth of 90 km. It was felt as grade II–III in the Mercalli scale in the city of Mendoza.
The area is the most seismically active in Argentina. This seismic event was the largest in 20 years; the 1985 Mendoza earthquake
1985 Mendoza earthquake
The 1985 Mendoza earthquake was a medium-intensity seismic movement in the province of Mendoza, Argentina. It took place 7 minutes after midnight on 26 January 1985, and had a magnitude of 6.2 in the Richter scale. Its epicenter was located about 45 km southwest of Mendoza, the provincial capital,...
(magnitude 6.0) caused 6 casualties and thousands of damaged houses and was centered at Godoy Cruz
Godoy Cruz Department
Godoy Cruz is a central department of Mendoza Province in Argentina.The provincial subdivision has a population of about 183,000 inhabitants in an area of 75km², and its capital city is Godoy Cruz, which is located around 1,110km from Capital Federal...
, just 4 km at south of Mendoza.