A LITTLE OF GEOLOGY

AND EARTHQUAKES

Are we at risk?
 1. Earthquakes in our planet

2. Earthquakes in our region

(How do earthquakes occur?)

3. Active tectonics in the Alicante province

4. Earthquake preparedness
 1. Earthquakes in our planet

Seismic Monitor - Recent earthquakes on a world map with regional

zoom, headlines, and more.
 1. Earthquakes in our planet
How many earthquakes ocurr in our planet?

80.000 every month

2.600 every day

2 every minute

These geological events are very frequent.

 1. Earthquakes in our planet

Fortunately, most of them are located in uninhabited areas and only a few
are of great magnitude.
 2. Earthquakes in our region

Historical seismicity 1396 - 1997 (Intensity MSK)

 2. Earthquakes in our region

Historical seismicity in the province of Alicante

3. Active tectonics in the Alicante province

Earthquakes are caused by faulting (active faults)

3. Active tectonics in the Alicante province
 3. Active tectonics in the Alicante province
Surface waves are produced when earthquake energy reaches the Earths
surface. These are the slowest moving waves, but there are the most
destructive for structures on earth.
3. Active tectonics in the Alicante province
 3. Active tectonics in the Alicante province

4 mm/ao

4 mm/ao 4 mm/ao

Falla
Gloria
4 mm/ao
5 mm/ao 6 mm/ao
4 mm/ao 6 mm/ao
3. Active tectonics in the Alicante province
3. Active tectonics in the Alicante province
Earthquake in Lorca: MAY 11, 2011
 INTENSITY AND DAMAGES
Magnitude: 5.1 Mw
Max. intensity: MM VII
Date: 11 May 2011

Crevices, fissures, cracks

STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE AND IRREPARABLE DAMAGES
 Other Historical Earthquakes

Earthquake in Torrevieja, 1829 Earthquake in Andalucia, 1884

Intensity X Intensity X
Magnitude: 6.3 6.9 Magnitude: 6.5
389 dead 840 dead
 3. Active tectonics in the Alicante province

Alicante province: boundary of active plates (4-5 mm/year).

Nowadays, the compression NW-SE is being produced by the African

tectonic plate against Eurasian plate.
Compressive strenghts are distributed over a vast deformation area.

Small or Moderate seismic activity

The most important active faults are located inZonaInterna de la C.

Btica.
The most important active faults in Alicante are F.B.S, F.C. and the faults NW-SE.

The period of repetition (Torrevieja 1829) varies between 500 and 1000
years...
 4. Earthquake preparedness

What can we do to be prepared for an

earthquake?
Step 2:
Step 1:
Plan to be safe by creating a disaster plan
Secure your space by identifying hazards
and deciding how you will communicate
and securing moveable items.
in an emergency.

Step 4:
Step 3:
Minimize financial hardship by organizing
Organize disaster supplies in convenient
important documents, strengthening
locations.
your property, and considering
insurance.
 4. Earthquake preparedness: SURVIVE

What should we do DURING an earthquake?

Step 6:
Step 5:
Improve safety after earthquakes by
Drop, Cover, and Hold On when the earth
evacuating if necessary, helping the
shakes.
injured, and preventing further injuries
or damage.
 4. Earthquake preparedness: RECOVER

What do we do AFTER an earthquake?

Step 7:
Reconnect and Restore
Restore daily life by
reconnecting with others,
repairing damage, and
rebuilding community.
 4. Earthquake preparedness

Did you feel an earthquake?

Please, fill out the questionary which appears on this website
www.ign.es
Your answers will be extremely useful for determining the intensity of this
event.

Thanks for your attention!

Where to go for more information:
www.earthquake.usgs.gov