Adam Pascale on Venezuela Earthquakes: Depth, Proximity, and Aging Infrastructure
Adam Pascale, chief scientist at the Seismology Research Centre in Australia, provided analysis on the factors contributing to the severity of the recent Venezuela earthquakes.
Key Details
- The second earthquake recorded a magnitude of 7.5.
- For context, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake is more than 10 times larger and significantly more powerful than the magnitude 6.3 earthquake that struck Christchurch in 2011.
- The Venezuela earthquakes were approximately 20 to 30 times larger than the magnitude 5.9 earthquake near Mansfield, Victoria, five years ago.
- The earthquakes occurred close to densely populated areas.
- The earthquakes were relatively shallow, which can increase damage.
Analysis
Pascale noted that many cities near the epicenters contain older infrastructure that may not be engineered to withstand such earthquakes.