M 8.0 earthquake in Peru

M 8.0 earthquake in Peru

 In Event News

A M 8.0 earthquake struck north-western Peru yesterday, in the country’s Amazon region. EigenPrism users can follow this QuickLink for immediate analysis on their exposures; EigenPrism 3.0 beta users, please use this Beta QuickLink.

Tectonic Summary

The USGS provided the following summary:

The May 26, 2019, M 8.0 northern Peru earthquake occurred as the result of normal faulting at an intermediate depth, approximately 110 km beneath the Earth’s surface within the subducted lithosphere of the Nazca plate. Focal mechanism solutions indicate that rupture occurred on either a north- or south-striking, moderately dipping normal fault. At the location of the earthquake, the Nazca plate moves to the east relative to the South America plate at a velocity of about 70 mm/yr, subducting at the Peru-Chile Trench, to the west of the Peruvian coast and the May 26th earthquake. Earthquakes of northern Peru and most of western South America are due to strains generated by this ongoing subduction; at this latitude, the Nazca plate is seismically active to depths of about 650 km. This earthquake occurred in a segment of the subducted plate that has produced frequent earthquakes with focal depths of 100 to 150 km.

Further, the USGS noted this region’s seismic risk:

… three other intermediate-depth M 7+ events have occurred within 250 km of the September 26th earthquake over the past three decades. A M 7.5 earthquake in September 2005, located at a similar depth but approximately 130 km to the west of the May 26th, 2019 earthquake, caused 5 deaths, about 70 injuries, and significant damage in the surrounding region.

Assessing the impact

EigenAlerts provide automated notifications with key metrics to estimate impact:

  • Customized and mobile enabled
  • Updated as forecasts and advisories change

EigenPrism users who have set earthquake Alerts will receive email and text notifications detailing the estimated impact on their exposure. Quick links are noted above.

Contact us if you want to use EigenAlerts immediately; you can be up and running in a day if you have data in standard cat model or spreadsheet format.

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