Deep M6.0 earthquake hits northern Argentina

deep-m6-0-earthquake-hits-northern-argentina

A deep earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit northern Argentina at 16:43 UTC (13:43 local time) on December 24, 2019, at a depth of 560 km (347 miles). This is the third M6.0 earthquake in the past 24 hours. 

The epicenter was located 14.7 km (9.1 miles) WNW of El Hoyo (population 2 162), 120 km (74.4 miles) NW of Quimili and 127 km (78.7 miles) NE of Santiago del Estero, Argentina.

There are about 90 000 people living within 100 km (62 miles).

536 000 people are estimated to have felt weak shaking.

The USGS issued a green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block with concrete bond beam and unreinforced brick with concrete floor construction.

Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.

Image credit: Google, TW/SAM

Regional seismicity

This is the third M6.0 earthquake in the past 24 hours.

A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit off the coast of Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada at 19:49 UTC on December 23, 2019 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). Earthquakes Canada reported it as M5.8 at a depth of 5 km (3.1 miles), preceded by M5.1 and M5.6 at 16:44 and 19:13 UTC, respectively, and followed by M6.0 at 20:56 and M4.8 at 23:38 UTC.

Image credit: Google, TW/SAM. Data source: USGS

Featured image credit: Google, TW/SAM

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