|This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2012)|
|Date||October 11, 1918|
|Magnitude||7.5 Ms |
|Areas affected||Puerto Rico|
The San Fermín earthquake, also known as the Puerto Rico earthquake of 1918, struck the island of Puerto Rico at 10:14 am on October 11, 1918. The magnitude for the earthquake measured 7.5 on the surface wave magnitude scale and level IX on the Rossi-Forel scale. The main-shock epicenter occurred off the northwestern coast of the island, somewhere along the Puerto Rico Trench.
The earthquake triggered a tsunami with waves measured at approximately 20–35 ft; it swept the west coast of the island. The combined effects of the earthquake and tsunami made it one of the worst natural disasters that have struck the island. The losses resulting from the disaster were approximately 116 casualties and $4 million in property.
The epicenter of the 1918 Puerto Rico Earthquake was located in the Mona Passage off the northwestern coast of the island, somewhere along an old left-lateral strike-slip fault. The strongest ground shaking has been estimated at around a magnitude 7.5, or Level IX (Rossi-Forel scale). The resulting tsunami affected primarily the west coast towns of the Island (primarily Mayaguez).
As a result of the earthquake, numerous structures in the west coast suffered irreparable damage. Factories and production facilities were virtually destroyed, while bridges and roads were severely damaged. The earthquake caused several mudslides in areas where the magnitude exceeded Level VII, but none caused numerous deaths. Also, the river currents were affected, which, in many cases affected the foundations of many bridges, resulting in their collapse. Telegraph cables under the ocean were damaged, cutting off the island from outside communication for a time.
The reported casualties of the earthquake have been estimated somewhere between 91 to 116 deaths. Approximately 40 of these deaths were caused by the tsunami which swept shore communities. Also, damages to property were estimated at around $4 million, which was a huge amount at that time in terms of the island's economy.
In Mayagüez, the largest city affected, 700 masonry buildings were damaged and 1,000 wooden houses, so many people were homeless. Major buildings like the church, post office and hall were severely damaged. With fear because of the aftershocks, many people camped out in the hills for weeks.
As a result of the earthquake, a tsunami lashed the west coast of the island, probably 4–7 minutes after the main shock. The highest waves were measured at 20 ft and destroyed several coastal villages. It has been estimated that 40 people were drowned as a direct result of the tsunami. The tsunami reached Galveston, Texas, where it registered as a disturbance on tide gauges.
Several aftershocks were reported immediately after the main earthquake. On October 24 and November 12, two strong aftershocks were reported in the island. However, no damage was reported as a result.
- Utsu, T. R. (2002), "A List of Deadly Earthquakes in the World: 1500-2000", International Handbook of Earthquake & Engineering Seismology, Part A, Volume 81A (First ed.), Academic Press, p. 703, ISBN 978-0124406520
- "Sobre la edificación del Templo" (in Spanish). Retrieved August 8, 2010.
- Subcomite de la Historia de Mayagüez (1960), Historia de Mayagüez 1760-1960 (in Spanish), Talleres Graficos Interamericanos, retrieved September 7, 2010
- Millie Gil. A 92 años del Terremoto de San Fermín, 1918. Mayaguez Sabe a Mango. 17 October 2010.
- Peter Aviles, "The Earthquake of the Century", 2002, hosted at University of Puerto Rico, accessed 24 October 2013
- Reid, H. (1919), "The Porto Rico Earthquakes of October-November, 1918", Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (Seismological Society of America) 9 (4): 95–127
- McCann, W. (1985), "On the earthquake hazards of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands", Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (Seismological Society of America) 75 (1): 251–262
- "Puerto Rico Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Program", University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
- "Puerto Rico Seismic Network", University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
- Significant earthquake – Puerto Rico: Mona Passage – National Geophysical Data Center
- USGS Historic Earthquake: Northwestern Mona Passage – United States Geological Survey
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