1949 Ambato earthquake

Earthquake in Ecuador August 2022 August 2025 1949 Ambato earthquake 1949-08-05 19:08:52 896736 iscgem896736 August 5, 1949 14:08:52 Ecuador Map showing location of epicenter of earthquake relative to Ambato; the bullseye is the epicenter; small blue lines are rivers 6.4 s y -1.5 -78.2 inline,title Ecuador 11 5,050 A magnitude 6.4 s y earthquake struck Ecuador's Tungurahua Province southeast of its capital Ambato and killed 5,050 people on August 5, 1949. The nearby villages of Guano, Patate, Pelileo, and Pillaro were destroyed, and the city of Ambato suffered heavy damage.http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/today/index.php?month=8&day=5&submit=View+Date Today in Earthquake History: August 5 December 18, 2009 August 5, 2010 United States Geological Survey https://web.archive.org/web/20121014051659/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/today/index.php?month=8&day=5&submit=View+Date October 14, 2012 live The earthquake flattened buildings and subsequent landslides caused damage throughout the Tungurahua, Chimborazo, and Cotopaxi Provinces. It disrupted water mains and communication lines and opened a fissure into which the small town of Libertad sank. Moderate shaking from the event extended as far away as Quito and Guayaquil. Earthquakes in Ecuador stem from two major interrelated tectonic areas: the subduction of the Nazca plate under the South American plate and the Andean Volcanic Belt. The 1949 Ambato earthquake initially followed an intersection of several northwest–southeast-trending faults in the Inter-Andean Valley which were created by the subduction of the Carnegie Ridge. Strata of rock cracked as the earthquake ruptured the faults, sending out powerful shock waves. Today threats exist throughout the country from both interplate and intraplate seismicity.Espinosa A.F. Hall M.L. Yepes H. Schuster R.L. Egred J The March 5, 1987, Ecuador earthquakes: mass wasting and socioeconomic effects https://books.google.com/books?id=VZwE_5XDtugC&pg=PA31 Natural disaster studies, an investigative series of the committee on natural disasters 1991 National Academies Press 978-0-309-04444-8 29–31 Tectonics and Seismicity September 17, 2011 Background Earthquakes are common in Ecuador. Near the Nazca subduction zone the recorded history of interplate earthquakes spans 80 years. At the time it struck the 1949 Ambato earthquake was the second-worst earthquake in Ecuador's modern history topped only by the 1797 Riobamba earthquake. Several major and deadly earthquakes have occurred throughout the country since 1949, including the 1987 Ecuador earthquakes and the 2016 Ecuador earthquake.Mohammad Heidarzadeh Satoko Murotani Kenji Satake Tomohiro Takagawa Tatsuhiko Saito Fault size and depth extent of the Ecuador earthquake (Mw 7.8) of 16 April 2016 from teleseismic and tsunami data Geophysical Research Letters 2017 44 5 2211–2219 10.1002/2017GL072545 2017GeoRL..44.2211H 132506664 https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/2017GL072545 free The 2007 Peru earthquake also affected the country.https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/historical_country.php#ecuador Historic World Earthquakes United States Geological Survey November 23, 2009 August 6, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100728221758/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/historical_country.php July 28, 2010 dead Geology thumb|right|upright=0.75|The Nazca plate is being subducted under the South American plate, generating volcanism and extensive seismicity Much of South American seismic activity and volcanism originates from subduction of the oceanic Nazca plate under the continental South American plate and subduction of the Pacific's lithosphere under the South American continent. This seismicity extends for 6000 km mi 0 on 1 along the continent's western edge and probably stems from a region of northeast-trending faulting near the Ecuadorian Trench. The region of faulting may actually function as its own microplate. The Carnegie Ridge is sliding under Ecuadorian land, causing coastal uplift and volcanism. The ridge's movement may also have changed the type of faulting along the coast, causing strike-slip faults (faults that move horizontally past each other). Evidence of this subduction altering the course of faulting is found at the Yaquina fault, which, unlike the rest of the Panama Basin faults, trends to the west instead of north–south, indicating that the Carnegie Ridge may be colliding with the continental mass of Ecuador. This collision created northwest–southeast and northeast–southwest-trending faults in the region, and with that, caused strong earthquakes in Riobamba in 1797 and Alausi in 1961. Several of the northwest–southeast-trending faults converge in the Inter-Andean Valley where the 1949 Ambato earthquake took place. The hypocenter of the earthquake occurred 40 km mi 0 on beneath the surface, under a mountain 72 km mi 0 on from Ambato. Nearby faults ruptured, breaking rock strata and sending shock waves to the surface capable of bringing down entire buildings. Life reported that local seismologists first placed the earthquake's magnitude at 7.5, Disaster Strikes Ecuador: In the Shadow of the Andes 5,000 Die in Earthquake Life 27 8 26–27 August 22, 1949 https://books.google.com/books?id=00kEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA26 November 26, 2010 Time but the official measurement was later revised to 6.4 s y.EB 896736 The earthquake originated from a hypocenter 15 km beneath the surface.EB 896736 2 Damage and casualties thumb|The ruins of homes in Pelileo after the earthquake The earthquake was preceded by a foreshock, which, although modest, was strong enough to cause chaos and force people to flee from their homes into the streets. The main shock originated southeast of Ambato. When the primary shock hit Ambato's main cathedral and military barracks collapsed, as did most of the city's buildings, scores of young girls preparing for their First Communion perished in the cathedral.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zvQZAAAAIBAJ&pg=3783,2390574 Toll in Quake Is Up to 2,700 Dead, Report Milwaukee Journal Harry J. Grant August 7, 1949 August 6, 2010 October 2017 InternetArchiveBot yes The shaking ruptured water mains, disabled communication lines, opened cracks in the earth, reduced bridges to rubble, and derailed a train.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Qf0oAAAAIBAJ&pg=2031,3353378 Atlantic Pact Signers Agree on Protection: Earthquake Kills 500 in Ecuador; Chinese General Joins Reds August 6, 1949 Nevada Daily Mail September 11, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20160510071730/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Qf0oAAAAIBAJ&sjid=i9QEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2031,3353378 May 10, 2016 live The earthquake demolished buildings in rural hamlets; closer to the nearest mountains of the Andes, landslides destroyed roads and blocked rivers.http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,888066,00.html Ecuador: Death in the Andes August 15, 1949 Time Time Inc. (Time Warner) August 6, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20121014114137/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,888066,00.html October 14, 2012 dead The village of Libertad near Pelileo sank 460 m ft 0 on 2 into a huge hole about 800 m ft 0 on 1 in diameter with all of its 100 inhabitants.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6WoKAAAAIBAJ&pg=2658,5566174 Ecuador Town Disappeared in Big Earthquake August 11, 1949 Ellensburg Daily Record J.C. Kaynor August 6, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20160502160635/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6WoKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AEsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2658,5566174 May 2, 2016 live Shaking up to intensity IV extended as far away as Quito and Guayaquil. Initial reports (around August 7) estimated the death toll at 2,700 people.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Hh8hAAAAIBAJ&pg=4199,3582216 Ecuador Earthquake: Thousands Are Injured August 7, 1949 Sarasota Herald-Tribune Diane McFarlin August 5, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20160504042721/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Hh8hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=p2QEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4199,3582216 May 4, 2016 live The cities of Patate and Pelileo suffered the most with 1,000 and 1,300 dead respectively. In Ambato reports of the death toll ranged from 400 to 500, and the Ecuadorean Embassy in Washington, D.C., estimated that 1,000 to more than 2,000 people were injured. The town of Pillaro, destroyed by the quake, had more than 20 dead, and in Latacunga, 11 were killed and 30 injured; 50 homes, two churches, and the local government building were also ruined. Fifteen other towns and cities were also badly affected, including Guano which was devastated. Later counts assumed around 3,200 casualties in Pelileo; the total death toll estimates were adjusted to around 4,000 people. Officials reported that many of the dead had been inside buildings as they buckled or were killed by flooding brought about by the blockage of a drainage canal. Others were crushed by landslides from nearby mountains. No homes in the city of Pelileo were left standing, many buildings were flattened, and large cracks formed in the ground. In Ambato alone 75 percent of the homes still standing had to be demolished.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19490809&id=7rIrAAAAIBAJ&pg=2096,974370&hl=el 100,000 Homeless in Ecuadorian Earthquake August 9, 1949 The Telegraph Terrence Williams August 5, 2010 On August 8, an aftershock with "considerable strength" struck near Ambato.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tq0fAAAAIBAJ&pg=6856,4374191 Another Earthquake Strikes in Ecuador August 9, 1949 The Southeast Missourian August 5, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20160428091034/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tq0fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-9YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6856,4374191 April 28, 2016 live The final death toll according to the United States Geological Survey was 5,050. The earthquake severely affected some 30 communities and left approximately 100,000 people homeless. Relief efforts Ecuador's President Galo Plaza Lasso flew to Ambato to take personal charge of the primary relief efforts. Plaza directed rescue efforts for two days as airlifts from Quito dropped supplies. A group of Red Cross volunteers and medical supplies were sent on American aircraft. The United States Army sent two relief teams equipped with serum and blood plasma. The mayor of Miami along with seven other politicians began a fund-raising campaign for medical needs and clothing and coordinated the distribution of 69 kg lb 0 on 2 of Rexall drugs.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=378LAAAAIBAJ&pg=3533,5026107 Florida East Coast Cities Head Drive to Supply Relief to Stricken Ecuador Evening Independent August 12, 1949 September 11, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20160505202812/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=378LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g1UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3533,5026107 May 5, 2016 live Several nearby countries sent airplanes carrying medicine and food.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xrEUAAAAIBAJ&pg=4364,3673526 Ecuador's Earthquake: Stern Measures Taken by the Government August 11, 1949 The Age Fairfax Media August 5, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20160519070949/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xrEUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vb0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4364,3673526 May 19, 2016 live A local fund-raising effort collected 250,000 Ecuadorian sucres (approximately US$14,815 1949) within two hours of its launch. Plaza said "We have not lost our courage. Neither Ambato nor Ecuador shall cry any more, but begin to work." On August 7, a plane carrying 34 rescue workers from the Shell Oil Company crashed 32 km mi 0 on from Ambato leaving no survivors.Latest Reports on Earthquake August 8, 1949 The Sydney Morning Herald Disease began to spread in Pelileo within days of the earthquake, which prompted a team of American soldiers, acting as relief workers, to order water purification devices and DDT airdrops to cleanse the area of airborne agents. Sick victims were quarantined and prevented from leaving the city. Aftermath thumb|A hospital ruined by the earthquake in Ambato The earthquake considerably impacted a number of cities: it destroyed Guano, Patate, Pelileo, Pillaro, and one-third of Ambato. The city of Ambato was a "scene of anguish and pain" described by "scores of little funerals winding their way through the debris". The brand-new hospital had been reduced to four walls, and most of the buildings in town were demolished. In Pelileo relief workers found victims feeding buried people through holes in the ground. In the days following the earthquakes aftershocks occurred and torrential rains ensued.Ecuador Victims Homeless in Downpour The Sydney Morning Herald August 10, 1949 In an effort to help the inhabitants a festival of fruit and flowers was held on June 29, 1950. The festival was a success and became an annual event that is celebrated each year during Carnaval and is now an important tourist attraction.http://www.ecuador.com/blog/the-festival-of-fruit-and-flowers-in-ambato The Festival of Fruit and Flowers in Ambato New Media Holdings Company August 19, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20120508030111/http://www.ecuador.com/blog/the-festival-of-fruit-and-flowers-in-ambato May 8, 2012 live http://www.fiestasdeambato.com/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=7 Historia de la Fiesta de la Fruta y de las Flores Fiestas de Ambato 2010 Spanish Comité Permanente de la Fiesta de la Fruta y de las Flores (Standing Committee of the Festival of Fruit and Flowers) October 4, 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120729182339/http://www.fiestasdeambato.com/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=7 July 29, 2012 Ambato was completely rebuilt after the earthquake. The city's main church, the Iglesia Matriz de Ambato, was replaced by a new cathedral known as Iglesia La Catedral in 1954.http://www.ambato.gov.ec/catedral.html Iglesia La Catedral Municipalidad de Ambato 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20090429025556/http://ambato.gov.ec/catedral.html April 29, 2009 Spanish Pelileo was rebuilt on a new site 2 km on from its previous location.http://www.geo.mtu.edu/rs4hazards/kknutsen/ShadowVolcanoTechnicalReport2002.pdf In the shadow of the volcano: human health and community resilience Whiteford L.M. Tobin G.A. Laspina C. Yepes H. amp Center for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (at the University of South Florida) 2002 August 19, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20120226053031/http://www.geo.mtu.edu/rs4hazards/kknutsen/ShadowVolcanoTechnicalReport2002.pdf February 26, 2012 live Current situation Ambato is frequently visited by tourists traveling on the Pan-American Highway. The city is well known for its extensive market, which sells a wide array of items, including local delicacies and flowers, and for its quintas — old estates that serve as historic parks — some of which pre-date the earthquake.St. Louis Regis Lonely Planet Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands Lonely Planet Louis 2009 2009 167 Ecuador is still at risk from earthquakes: Both intraplate (such as those in March 1987) and interplate earthquakes are possible. Intraplate seismicity poses a more formidable threat, as it can be much more powerful than interplate seismicity and is usually associated with landslides, subsidence, and even soil liquefaction. See also List of earthquakes in 1949 List of earthquakes in Colombia List of earthquakes in Ecuador References PAGER-CAT Earthquake Catalog https://earthquake.usgs.gov/static/lfs/data/pager/catalogs/ September 4, 2009 United States Geological Survey Version 2008_06.1 August 6, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180115071656/https://earthquake.usgs.gov/static/lfs/data/pager/catalogs/ January 15, 2018 live External links 896736 Ambato Ambato Category:Earthquakes in Ecuador Category:Tungurahua Province Category:August 1949 in South America Category:1949 disasters in South America Category:Ambato, Ecuador