2010 Baja California earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Baja California earthquake (also known as 2010 Easter earthquake, 2010 Sierra El Mayor earthquake, or 2010 El Mayor - Cucapah earthquake) was an earthquake
of 7.2 magnitude on the moment magnitude scale
. It started 26 kilometres (16.2 mi) south of Guadalupe Victoria
, Baja California
, Mexico, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 mi). It occurred at 3:40:41 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) (22:40:41 UTC) on Easter Sunday
, April 4, 2010, and it is said to have lasted about a minute and a half. The strongest shaking was felt in the ejido
of Alberto Oviedo Mota, municipality of Mexicali, at Mercalli intensity scale
VIII (Severe). In Mexicali
, Calexico
and Guadalupe Victoria
it rated VII (Very Strong), while in Ensenada
and Tijuana
it measured VI (Strong). Most of the damage in this earthquake occurred in the twin cities of Mexicali
and Calexico
on the Mexico–United States border. Four people were killed and 100 people were injured.
The quake was widely felt throughout the Western United States
, and some Southern zones
, and Northwest Mexico. The earthquake was the strongest to rock Southern California
in at least 18 years (since the 1992 Landers earthquake
(M 7.3)), if not longer: the next most recent comparable earthquake— the 1952 Kern County earthquake
(M 7.3)— 58 years earlier. Each of these earthquakes had similar magnitudes, and were also felt across a large swath of North America
.
, which is about 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) to 80 km (49.7 mi) long and straddles the California–Baja California border. The active Laguna Salada Fault ruptured in February 1892 with an estimated Mw
7.2 earthquake.
By the distribution of aftershocks and using radar interferometry, the main shock rupture was found to have occurred on unmapped faults in the Cucapa Mountains and beneath the Colorado River Delta. A liquefaction zone bounded by the Cerro Prieto Fault and the Laguna Salada Fault was observed.
Before the Mw 7.2 earthquake occurred, the surrounding area had been seismically active in 2009. Several foreshock
s began from April 1, 2010, with magnitudes of 3, 4 and 5.
measured 7.2 on the moment magnitude scale
that started 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) south of Guadalupe Victoria
, Baja California
, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 mi). It occurred at 22:40 UTC (1540 local time
) on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010, and it is said to have lasted about a minute and 29 seconds. Since the earthquake occurred on this day, it has been also called the Easter Sunday Earthquake. The strongest shaking was felt in Alberto Oviedo Mota, an ejido
50 km southeast of Mexicali, at Mercalli intensity scale
VIII (Severe). In Mexicali
, Calexico
, and Guadalupe Victoria
it rated VII (Very Strong), while in Ensenada
, San Diego and Tijuana
it measured VI (Strong).
The April 4 quake was the second largest earthquake in Baja California
history after the 1892 Laguna Salada earthquake at a disputed magnitude 7.2 to 7.8 of the richter scale, and was well recorded in Southern California, especially in the Imperial valley.
On April 5, 2010 EQECAT, Inc. estimated the total economic damage from this event would not exceed $1 billion (USD), and insured losses will not exceed $300 million (USD).
s with a magnitude of at least 5 have been reported; one at a magnitude of 5.2, one at 5.4, and one at a magnitude of 5.1, all three within one hour. Additionally a 5.3 aftershock hit the region very near the mainshock epicenter on April 8 at approximately 9:44 am local time. There have been at least nine large aftershocks in total.
By six hours after the earthquake more than 90 aftershocks or triggered earthquakes between magnitude 3.0 and 5.1 were recorded in northern Baja California and southern California. This included a magnitude 3 event 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) off the coast of Malibu, California. By the early hours of the following morning, scientists had measured 100 aftershocks.
Pat Abbott, a professor emeritus of geology at San Diego State University
, said, "Any quake of this size seems to pass some kind of threshold where it’s large enough to disturb or trigger other faults. In cases like this, that often means increasing stress on other faults, which makes them more prone to movement. The energy seems to be moving northward toward the San Andreas Fault. I don’t want to anthropomorphize, but it’s like this quake was goading the San Andreas." It remains to be seen how the 1300 km (807.8 mi) San Andreas Fault was affected by these temblors. The southern section of the San Andreas Fault
worries scientists because it has not ruptured in more than 300 years. The region also includes other faults, including the Imperial Fault Zone
.
In the early morning hours of April 10, 2010, an aftershock measuring magnitude 4.4 was felt throughout most of Southern California and Baja California. It was said to have lasted about ten seconds. No injuries or damage were reported. Another aftershock measuring a similar magnitude struck Southern California on the morning of April 11.
Seismologists in the California Institute of Technology
of Pasadena announced a 10 percent chance of another earthquake on the same magnitude (7.3) or greater to strike within the first week, and 5 percent in the rest of the month of April 2010. It also falls on the state of California's Earthquake Preparedness month, as state and FEMA officials urge the state citizens to take preparations, and schools and businesses conduct earthquake drills across the state. The California Geological survey added 50 new faults to its map of faults several weeks after the earthquake.
Geological field work as of April 5, 2010, by Dr. Thomas Rockwell, professor of geology at San Diego State University, indicates about one meter of right-lateral surface faulting and 0.3 to 0.5 meters of vertical road offset on a fault that is located east of Laguna Salada Fault. Whether or not this is the Cerro Prieto Fault is unclear as of April 5. This is a developing field situation, as geologists are working to locate and measure the lateral extent of the surface faulting.
A strong aftershock with a magnitude of 5.7 occurred on June 14, 2010 at 9:26:58 p.m. PDT, with an epicenter near Ocotillo
in southwestern Imperial County and a focal depth of 5.0 km.
On July 7, 2010, a 5.4-magnitude earthquake, triggered by the April 10, 2010 quake, occurred on the San Jacinto Fault, the most seismically active fault in California and one of two that exhibited signs of increased pressure following the Mexico quake. It was centered 15 miles (20 kilometers) northwest of the town of Borrego Springs. The quake in April transferred stress to fault zones farther north, triggering the quake. The quake rattled buildings in downtown Los Angeles, toppled bottles off shelves and briefly halted rides at Disneyland.
was reported by Comisión Federal de Electricidad
CFE Alfredo Elías Ayub
as being without electricity. There were at least two fatalities in Mexicali, one of which was caused by a collapsed house. At least 100 people were injured in Mexicali and its suburbs. Multiple fires occurred due to ruptured natural gas
lines and damaged propane
tanks, and people were stuck in collapsed buildings as of the day after the quake.
CNN
reported that, "Pictures from Mexicali showed the sides ripped off buildings, toppled telephone poles, cracked roads, and supermarket aisles strewn with food that had fallen off shelves." Damage was also reported in a state government building in construction, and windows were broken at the Chamber of Commerce
in the city. According to the San Diego Union Tribune, the largest hospital in Mexicali sustained damage and was moving patients to other facilities.
The quake was felt for about 40 seconds in Tijuana
, Baja California, located 174 kilometres (108.1 mi) to the west-southwest, where it caused buildings to sway and knocked out power in parts of the city. Families celebrating Easter
ran out of the homes. A falling tree damaged a city water tank. Rescuers trying to reach Mexicali from Tijuana were slowed by a landslide
along the highway. The earthquake cracked the main aqueduct
that carries Colorado River
water from Mexicali to Tijuana, causing limitations on the water supply in Tijuana.
The day after the quake, Baja California Governor
José Guadalupe Osuna asked the federal government for a state of emergency to be declared. President
Felipe Calderón
visited the Mexicali area on Monday, April 5, to inspect the damage first-hand.
The earthquake's epicenter was close to the coast of the Gulf of California
about 30 miles from the shore. Mexican authorities in the states of Sonora
, Sinaloa
, Jalisco
and Nayarit
posted a tsunami
advisory in 5:00pm local time. But no tsunamis were reported within one hour of the posting.
seismologist
Dr. Lucile M. Jones said at least 20 million people in the United States and Mexico, including most of Southern California
, felt the quake. Sporadic power outages were reported throughout southern California. Skyscrapers shook in San Diego, California
, 180 kilometres (111.8 mi) northwest of the epicenter. The earthquake broke at least two water mains, one at a Nordstrom
department store in Fashion Valley Mall
and another at Mission Bay High School. The San Diego International Airport
also had a water leak at Gate 33 in Terminal 2, and the terminal was evacuated for about 10 minutes due to fears of a natural gas
leak. The Coronado Bridge over San Diego Bay
was briefly closed by the California Highway Patrol
as a precautionary measure. The Sheraton Hotel and Marina was evacuated when cracks were discovered in the floors and reoccupied once deemed to be safe.
Electric service was disrupted across most of the Imperial Valley
. In Calexico, California
, Fire Chief Peter Mercado said that there was structural damage, leaking gas lines and damage to the town's water system, but that no one was hurt.Calexico Police Lieutenant Gonzalo "CHALO" Gerardo said, "Downtown is going to remain closed until further notice. I honestly doubt that it will reopen soon. You've got a lot of cracks. You've got a lot of broken glass. It's unsafe for people to go there." The Calexico border crossing on California State Route 7 and a section of Interstate 8
were both closed.
In El Centro, California
, gas leaks, water main breaks, and collapsed chimneys and balconies were reported. A man was injured when he fell during the quake, and another man was injured when a sign fell on him. One city hospital had so many people, that the Salvation Army
sent a truck with water canteens and sandwiches.
It was felt in downtown Los Angeles
, where there were no immediate reports of damage, although the Los Angeles Fire Department
was put on alert. It was reported that some people were stuck in an elevator in Disneyland
, Anaheim
, and in a Century City
high-rise in Los Angeles. The rides in Disneyland were temporarily closed for inspection. In the Yuma, Arizona
area, 3,369 residents experienced a "relatively momentary [power] outage" from the quake, "but most were back in service shortly afterward".
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...
of 7.2 magnitude on the moment magnitude scale
Moment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
. It started 26 kilometres (16.2 mi) south of Guadalupe Victoria
Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California
Guadalupe Victoria, also known as the 43, is a small city in the state of Baja California in northern Mexico. Its population at the 2010 census was 17,119 inhabitants...
, Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, Mexico, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 mi). It occurred at 3:40:41 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) (22:40:41 UTC) on Easter Sunday
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
, April 4, 2010, and it is said to have lasted about a minute and a half. The strongest shaking was felt in the ejido
Ejido
The ejido system is a process whereby the government promotes the use of communal land shared by the people of the community. This use of community land was a common practice during the time of Aztec rule in Mexico...
of Alberto Oviedo Mota, municipality of Mexicali, at 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...
VIII (Severe). In Mexicali
Mexicali
Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
, Calexico
Calexico, California
Calexico is a city in Imperial County, California. The population was 38,572 at the 2010 census, up from 27,109 at the 2000 census. Calexico is about east of San Diego and west of Yuma, Arizona...
and Guadalupe Victoria
Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California
Guadalupe Victoria, also known as the 43, is a small city in the state of Baja California in northern Mexico. Its population at the 2010 census was 17,119 inhabitants...
it rated VII (Very Strong), while in Ensenada
Ensenada, Baja California
Ensenada is a coastal city in Mexico and the third-largest city in Baja California. It is located south of San Diego on the Baja California Peninsula. The city is locally referred to as La Cenicienta del Pacífico, or, The Cinderella of the Pacific...
and Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
it measured VI (Strong). Most of the damage in this earthquake occurred in the twin cities of Mexicali
Mexicali
Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
and Calexico
Calexico, California
Calexico is a city in Imperial County, California. The population was 38,572 at the 2010 census, up from 27,109 at the 2000 census. Calexico is about east of San Diego and west of Yuma, Arizona...
on the Mexico–United States border. Four people were killed and 100 people were injured.
The quake was widely felt throughout the Western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
, and some Southern zones
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
, and Northwest Mexico. The earthquake was the strongest to rock Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
in at least 18 years (since the 1992 Landers earthquake
1992 Landers earthquake
The 1992 Landers earthquake was a magnitude 7.3 earthquake that occurred on June 28, 1992 with an epicenter near the town of Landers, California...
(M 7.3)), if not longer: the next most recent comparable earthquake— the 1952 Kern County earthquake
1952 Kern County earthquake
The 1952 Kern County earthquake occurred on July 21, 1952, in Kern County, California, with a magnitude of 7.5Mw. It was the largest earthquake to strike Southern California since the Fort Tejon earthquake of 1857 and the 1872 Lone Pine earthquake, causing immense and widespread damage. The main...
(M 7.3)— 58 years earlier. Each of these earthquakes had similar magnitudes, and were also felt across a large swath of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Geology
The quake probably occurred on the Laguna Salada FaultLaguna Salada Fault
The Laguna Salada Fault is a geological fault between the United States and Mexico. About to long, it straddles the Imperial County-California–Baja California border.-Earthquakes:...
, which is about 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) to 80 km (49.7 mi) long and straddles the California–Baja California border. The active Laguna Salada Fault ruptured in February 1892 with an estimated Mw
Moment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
7.2 earthquake.
By the distribution of aftershocks and using radar interferometry, the main shock rupture was found to have occurred on unmapped faults in the Cucapa Mountains and beneath the Colorado River Delta. A liquefaction zone bounded by the Cerro Prieto Fault and the Laguna Salada Fault was observed.
Precursors and foreshocks
Mexicali, El Centro, San Diego, Ensenada, and Tijuana, situated in a very active seismic zone, are surrounded by important faults. An earthquake of such magnitude had been expected around the fault situated in the southeast of Mexicali.Before the Mw 7.2 earthquake occurred, the surrounding area had been seismically active in 2009. Several foreshock
Foreshock
A foreshock is an earthquake that occurs before a larger seismic event and is related to it in both time and space. The designation of an earthquake as foreshock, mainshock or aftershock is only possible after the event....
s began from April 1, 2010, with magnitudes of 3, 4 and 5.
April 4 quake
The earthquakeEarthquake
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...
measured 7.2 on the moment magnitude scale
Moment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
that started 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) south of Guadalupe Victoria
Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California
Guadalupe Victoria, also known as the 43, is a small city in the state of Baja California in northern Mexico. Its population at the 2010 census was 17,119 inhabitants...
, Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 mi). It occurred at 22:40 UTC (1540 local time
Time in Mexico
Mexico uses three different UTC offsets as defined in the federal Law of Time Systems:*Zone 1 covers most of Mexico and is equivalent to UTC-06:00 ....
) on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010, and it is said to have lasted about a minute and 29 seconds. Since the earthquake occurred on this day, it has been also called the Easter Sunday Earthquake. The strongest shaking was felt in Alberto Oviedo Mota, an ejido
Ejido
The ejido system is a process whereby the government promotes the use of communal land shared by the people of the community. This use of community land was a common practice during the time of Aztec rule in Mexico...
50 km southeast of Mexicali, at 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...
VIII (Severe). In Mexicali
Mexicali
Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
, Calexico
Calexico, California
Calexico is a city in Imperial County, California. The population was 38,572 at the 2010 census, up from 27,109 at the 2000 census. Calexico is about east of San Diego and west of Yuma, Arizona...
, and Guadalupe Victoria
Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California
Guadalupe Victoria, also known as the 43, is a small city in the state of Baja California in northern Mexico. Its population at the 2010 census was 17,119 inhabitants...
it rated VII (Very Strong), while in Ensenada
Ensenada, Baja California
Ensenada is a coastal city in Mexico and the third-largest city in Baja California. It is located south of San Diego on the Baja California Peninsula. The city is locally referred to as La Cenicienta del Pacífico, or, The Cinderella of the Pacific...
, San Diego and Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
it measured VI (Strong).
The April 4 quake was the second largest earthquake in Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
history after the 1892 Laguna Salada earthquake at a disputed magnitude 7.2 to 7.8 of the richter scale, and was well recorded in Southern California, especially in the Imperial valley.
On April 5, 2010 EQECAT, Inc. estimated the total economic damage from this event would not exceed $1 billion (USD), and insured losses will not exceed $300 million (USD).
Aftershocks and related quakes
Three aftershockAftershock
An aftershock is a smaller earthquake that occurs after a previous large earthquake, in the same area of the main shock. If an aftershock is larger than the main shock, the aftershock is redesignated as the main shock and the original main shock is redesignated as a foreshock...
s with a magnitude of at least 5 have been reported; one at a magnitude of 5.2, one at 5.4, and one at a magnitude of 5.1, all three within one hour. Additionally a 5.3 aftershock hit the region very near the mainshock epicenter on April 8 at approximately 9:44 am local time. There have been at least nine large aftershocks in total.
By six hours after the earthquake more than 90 aftershocks or triggered earthquakes between magnitude 3.0 and 5.1 were recorded in northern Baja California and southern California. This included a magnitude 3 event 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) off the coast of Malibu, California. By the early hours of the following morning, scientists had measured 100 aftershocks.
Pat Abbott, a professor emeritus of geology at San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, said, "Any quake of this size seems to pass some kind of threshold where it’s large enough to disturb or trigger other faults. In cases like this, that often means increasing stress on other faults, which makes them more prone to movement. The energy seems to be moving northward toward the San Andreas Fault. I don’t want to anthropomorphize, but it’s like this quake was goading the San Andreas." It remains to be seen how the 1300 km (807.8 mi) San Andreas Fault was affected by these temblors. The southern section of the San Andreas Fault
San Andreas Fault
The San Andreas Fault is a continental strike-slip fault that runs a length of roughly through California in the United States. The fault's motion is right-lateral strike-slip...
worries scientists because it has not ruptured in more than 300 years. The region also includes other faults, including the Imperial Fault Zone
Imperial Fault Zone
The Imperial Fault Zone is a system of geological faults located in Imperial County in the Southern California region, along the border of the United States and Mexico.-Geology:...
.
In the early morning hours of April 10, 2010, an aftershock measuring magnitude 4.4 was felt throughout most of Southern California and Baja California. It was said to have lasted about ten seconds. No injuries or damage were reported. Another aftershock measuring a similar magnitude struck Southern California on the morning of April 11.
Seismologists in the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
of Pasadena announced a 10 percent chance of another earthquake on the same magnitude (7.3) or greater to strike within the first week, and 5 percent in the rest of the month of April 2010. It also falls on the state of California's Earthquake Preparedness month, as state and FEMA officials urge the state citizens to take preparations, and schools and businesses conduct earthquake drills across the state. The California Geological survey added 50 new faults to its map of faults several weeks after the earthquake.
Geological field work as of April 5, 2010, by Dr. Thomas Rockwell, professor of geology at San Diego State University, indicates about one meter of right-lateral surface faulting and 0.3 to 0.5 meters of vertical road offset on a fault that is located east of Laguna Salada Fault. Whether or not this is the Cerro Prieto Fault is unclear as of April 5. This is a developing field situation, as geologists are working to locate and measure the lateral extent of the surface faulting.
A strong aftershock with a magnitude of 5.7 occurred on June 14, 2010 at 9:26:58 p.m. PDT, with an epicenter near Ocotillo
Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens Engelm. is a desert plant of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Common names include ocotillo, desert coral, coachwhip, Jacob's staff, and vine cactus, although it is not a true cactus...
in southwestern Imperial County and a focal depth of 5.0 km.
On July 7, 2010, a 5.4-magnitude earthquake, triggered by the April 10, 2010 quake, occurred on the San Jacinto Fault, the most seismically active fault in California and one of two that exhibited signs of increased pressure following the Mexico quake. It was centered 15 miles (20 kilometers) northwest of the town of Borrego Springs. The quake in April transferred stress to fault zones farther north, triggering the quake. The quake rattled buildings in downtown Los Angeles, toppled bottles off shelves and briefly halted rides at Disneyland.
Mexico
Baja California state capital MexicaliMexicali
Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
was reported by Comisión Federal de Electricidad
Comisión Federal de Electricidad
The Comisión Federal de Electricidad is the Mexican state-owned electric widely known as CFE. It is the dominant electric company and the second most powerful state-owned company in Mexico after Pemex. The Mexican constitution states that the government is responsible for the control and...
CFE Alfredo Elías Ayub
Alfredo Elias Ayub
Alfredo Elías Ayub was the Director General of the Comisión Federal de Electricidad , which is the Mexican state-owned electric monopoly....
as being without electricity. There were at least two fatalities in Mexicali, one of which was caused by a collapsed house. At least 100 people were injured in Mexicali and its suburbs. Multiple fires occurred due to ruptured natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
lines and damaged propane
Propane
Propane is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula , normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is commonly used as a fuel for engines, oxy-gas torches, barbecues, portable stoves, and residential central...
tanks, and people were stuck in collapsed buildings as of the day after the quake.
CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
reported that, "Pictures from Mexicali showed the sides ripped off buildings, toppled telephone poles, cracked roads, and supermarket aisles strewn with food that had fallen off shelves." Damage was also reported in a state government building in construction, and windows were broken at the Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
in the city. According to the San Diego Union Tribune, the largest hospital in Mexicali sustained damage and was moving patients to other facilities.
The quake was felt for about 40 seconds in Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
, Baja California, located 174 kilometres (108.1 mi) to the west-southwest, where it caused buildings to sway and knocked out power in parts of the city. Families celebrating Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
ran out of the homes. A falling tree damaged a city water tank. Rescuers trying to reach Mexicali from Tijuana were slowed by a landslide
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
along the highway. The earthquake cracked the main aqueduct
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
that carries Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
water from Mexicali to Tijuana, causing limitations on the water supply in Tijuana.
The day after the quake, Baja California Governor
Governor of Baja California
The Governor of Baja California represents the executive branch of the government of the state of Baja California, Mexico, per the state's constitution. The official title is "Free and Sovereign State of Baja California" , and the position is democratically elected for a period of 6 years, and is...
José Guadalupe Osuna asked the federal government for a state of emergency to be declared. President
President of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
Felipe Calderón
Felipe Calderón
Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa is the current President of Mexico. He assumed office on December 1, 2006, and was elected for a single six-year term through 2012...
visited the Mexicali area on Monday, April 5, to inspect the damage first-hand.
The earthquake's epicenter was close to the coast of the Gulf of California
Gulf of California
The Gulf of California is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland...
about 30 miles from the shore. Mexican authorities in the states of Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
, Sinaloa
Sinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
, Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
and Nayarit
Nayarit
Nayarit officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Nayarit is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 20 municipalities and its capital city is Tepic.It is located in Western Mexico...
posted a tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
advisory in 5:00pm local time. But no tsunamis were reported within one hour of the posting.
United States
United States Geological SurveyUnited States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
seismologist
Seismology
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other planet-like bodies. The field also includes studies of earthquake effects, such as tsunamis as well as diverse seismic sources such as volcanic, tectonic, oceanic,...
Dr. Lucile M. Jones said at least 20 million people in the United States and Mexico, including most of Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, felt the quake. Sporadic power outages were reported throughout southern California. Skyscrapers shook in San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, 180 kilometres (111.8 mi) northwest of the epicenter. The earthquake broke at least two water mains, one at a Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
department store in Fashion Valley Mall
Fashion Valley Mall
Fashion Valley Mall is an upscale, open-air shopping mall in Mission Valley in San Diego, California. The shopping center has over 1.7 million square feet of leasable floor area, making it the largest mall in San Diego and one of the largest in California. It is owned and managed by the Simon...
and another at Mission Bay High School. The San Diego International Airport
San Diego International Airport
San Diego International Airport , sometimes referred to as Lindbergh Field, is a public airport located northwest of the central business district of San Diego, California and from the Mexico – United States border at Tijuana, Mexico...
also had a water leak at Gate 33 in Terminal 2, and the terminal was evacuated for about 10 minutes due to fears of a natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
leak. The Coronado Bridge over San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay is a natural harbor and deepwater port adjacent to San Diego, California. It is 12 mi/19 km long, 1 mi/1.6 km–3 mi/4.8 km wide...
was briefly closed by the California Highway Patrol
California Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol is a law enforcement agency of the U.S. state of California. The CHP has patrol jurisdiction over all California highways and also acts as the state police....
as a precautionary measure. The Sheraton Hotel and Marina was evacuated when cracks were discovered in the floors and reoccupied once deemed to be safe.
Electric service was disrupted across most of the Imperial Valley
Imperial Valley
The Imperial Valley is an agricultural area of Southern California's Imperial County. It is located in southeastern Southern California, centered around the city of El Centro. Locally, the terms "Imperial Valley" and "Imperial County" are used synonymously. The Valley is bordered between the...
. In Calexico, California
Calexico, California
Calexico is a city in Imperial County, California. The population was 38,572 at the 2010 census, up from 27,109 at the 2000 census. Calexico is about east of San Diego and west of Yuma, Arizona...
, Fire Chief Peter Mercado said that there was structural damage, leaking gas lines and damage to the town's water system, but that no one was hurt.Calexico Police Lieutenant Gonzalo "CHALO" Gerardo said, "Downtown is going to remain closed until further notice. I honestly doubt that it will reopen soon. You've got a lot of cracks. You've got a lot of broken glass. It's unsafe for people to go there." The Calexico border crossing on California State Route 7 and a section of Interstate 8
Interstate 8
Interstate 8 is an Interstate Highway in the southwestern United States. It runs from the southern edge of Mission Bay at Sunset Cliffs Blvd, in San Diego, California, almost at the Pacific Ocean, to the junction with Interstate 10, just southeast of Casa Grande, Arizona...
were both closed.
In El Centro, California
El Centro, California
El Centro is a city in and county seat of Imperial County, the largest city in the Imperial Valley and the east anchor of the Southern California Border Region, and the core urban area and principal city of the El Centro metropolitan area which encompasses all of Imperial County. El Centro is also...
, gas leaks, water main breaks, and collapsed chimneys and balconies were reported. A man was injured when he fell during the quake, and another man was injured when a sign fell on him. One city hospital had so many people, that the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
sent a truck with water canteens and sandwiches.
It was felt in downtown Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where there were no immediate reports of damage, although the Los Angeles Fire Department
Los Angeles Fire Department
The Los Angeles Fire Department is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Los Angeles....
was put on alert. It was reported that some people were stuck in an elevator in Disneyland
Disneyland Park (Anaheim)
Disneyland Park is a theme park located in Anaheim, California, owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts division of the Walt Disney Company. Known as Disneyland when it opened on July 18, 1955, and still almost universally referred to by that name, it is the only theme park to be...
, Anaheim
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, and in a Century City
Century City, Los Angeles, California
Century City is a 176-acre commercial and residential district on the Westside of the city of Los Angeles. It is bounded by Westwood on the west, Rancho Park on the southwest, Cheviot Hills and Beverlywood on the southeast, and the city of Beverly Hills on the northeast...
high-rise in Los Angeles. The rides in Disneyland were temporarily closed for inspection. In the Yuma, Arizona
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
area, 3,369 residents experienced a "relatively momentary [power] outage" from the quake, "but most were back in service shortly afterward".
See also
- 2009 Gulf of California earthquake2009 Gulf of California earthquakeA 6.9 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Gulf of California, between the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California, on August 3, 2009, at 10:59:56 a.m. PDT ....
- 2010 earthquakes2010 earthquakesEarthquakes in 2010 resulted in nearly 336,000 fatalities. Primarily, the 2010 Haiti earthquake caused an estimated 316,000 deaths to that country, making it the 6th deadliest earthquake in recorded history. Also notable, the 2010 Chile earthquake registered an 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale,...
- Cerro Prieto Geothermal Power StationCerro Prieto Geothermal Power StationThe Cerro Prieto Geothermal Power Station is the largest geothermal power station in the world, with an installed capacity of , with plans for expansion up to by 2012...
- List of 21st century earthquakes
- List of earthquakes in Mexico
External links
- USGS page on this quake with maps and charts including: a map of aftershocks and a map of where people in the United States reported the quake
- Home page of Ph.D. Y.Fialko, University of California San Diego Rupture characteristics of M7.2 Sierra El Mayor (Mexico) earthquake including coseismic interferograms provided by the space agencies ESA and JAXA.