   Kabul | |
| UTC time | 1956-06-09 23:13:55 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 888345 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | 10 June 1956 |
| Local time | 03:43 |
| Magnitude | 7.3 Mw[1] |
| Depth | 25 km (16 mi)[1] |
| Epicenter | 35°09′18″N 67°36′25″E / 35.155°N 67.607°E |
| Type | Oblique-slip[2] |
| Areas affected | Afghanistan |
| Max. intensity | MMI VIII (Severe)–MMI IX (Violent)[2] |
| Casualties | Deaths Reported: 570[3]–900[4] Afghan Embassy reported: 300[5] Injured Reported: 2000[6]–2500[3] Afghan Embassy reported: 200[5] |
The 1956 Afghanistan earthquake occurred in the early morning of 10 June 1956, causing considerable damage and casualties in the area of Kabul, Bamyan and the Hindu Kush mountain range. It had a magnitude of 7.3 on the surface-wave magnitude scale. The total number of deaths were between 300 and 900. According to Radio Afghanistan it was the heaviest registered earthquake ever in Afghanistan.
Tectonic setting edit
.[7]
Earthquake edit
A foreshock was recorded one day prior to the mainshock. The foreshock occurred in Sayghan District, Kahmard District and Bamyan.[8] Five aftershocks followed the mainshock within the next two days. The location of these events delineated a 50 km (31 mi) rupture length trending northeast. The northeast trend was also consistent with the meizoseismal area where the Mercalli intensity was VIII–IX (Severe–Violent). Rupture occurred north of the Herat Fault; a 1,100 km (680 mi) long strike-slip fault trending east-west; no major earthquakes have been assicuated with the fault in the instrumental period.[2] Many aftershocks followed a week after the mainshock.[9][10][8]
Intensity edit
Damage edit
The most affected areas were Kabul, Bamyan and the Hindu Kush mountain range.[11][10] In the affected areas all communication method and infrastructure was destroyed.[8] In the Kabul area, thousands of houses collapsed,[9] including some government buildings.[12] Due to the damaged infrastructure, traffic was blocked in many affected areas.[13]
Landslide edit
Villages were destroyed by landslides and rockslides;[8] hundreds of houses were washed away by floods in the Kunar Valley.[4][6] The earthquake caused the landscape to change.[9][10]
Flood edit
The large rocks fell into the river valley, altering the course of the river.[8]
Casualties edit
In initial reports no number of victims could be given, as information was limited because all communication was destroyed in the affected area. Ten people were killed due to a bridge that collapsed.[14] As of 14 June, four days after the first earthquake, according to Radio Afghanistan at least hundred people were killed, 600 were missing and thousands were injured.[10] The next day the number of deaths were reported between 60 and 70.[12] On 17 June, Radio Afghanistan reported around 270 deaths.[15][16] The next day 2500 new victims were announced, of whom 300 deaths.[13] In one of the affected areas 140 people were killed and 900 injured due to heavy floods. In another part of the valley there were 160 people killed and 1000 injured.[4][6] The total number of deaths reported by media was as high as 570[3] to 900.[4] The Afghan Embassy reported a total number of deaths of 300.[5] While the total number of injured people were reported to be 2000[6]–2500[3], the Afghan embassy reported 200.[5]
Response edit
Relief work was carried out by Hilal Ahmar. Coordination was done by officials of the Ministries of health and public works.[8] Afghanistan received international aid. The Netherlands Red Cross sent, with transport help of KLM, aid to the victims.[12][17] Pakistan offered doctors and medication.[4]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b ISC (2022), ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1904–2018), Version 9.1, International Seismological Centre
- ^ a b c Quittmeyer, R. C.; Jacob, K. H. (1979), "Historical and modern seismicity of Pakistan, Afghanistan, northwestern India, and southeastern Iran", Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 69 (3): 796
- ^ a b c d "Reddingsploeg vindt nog 2500 slachtoffers" [Rescue team finds 2500 more victims]. De Tijd (in Dutch). 19 June 1956.
- ^ a b c d e "In Afghanistan reeds 900 doden". Java-bode (in Dutch). 21 June 1956.
- ^ a b c d "Aardbeving eist 300 mensenlevens". Provinciale Drentsche en Asser Courant (in Dutch). 23 June 1956.
- ^ a b c d "Aardbeving Afghanistan erger dan gedacht". De nieuwsgier (in Dutch). 21 June 1956.
- ^ Yeats, R. (2012), Active Faults of the World, Cambridge University Press, pp. 19, 80–83, 89–94, 96–114, ISBN 978-0521190855
- ^ a b c d e f "Nog steeds aardschokken in Afghanistan". De Twentsche Courant Tubantia (in Dutch). 18 June 1956.
- ^ a b c "Honderden doden door aardbeving in Afghanistan". Algemeen Handelsblad (in Dutch). 14 June 1956.
- ^ a b c d "Landschap in Afghanistan veranderd. Honderden doden bij aardbeving" [Landscape in Afghanistan changed. Hundreds killed in earthquake]. De Volkskrant (in Dutch). 15 June 1956.
- ^ "Zwarw aardbeving in Afghanistan" [Severe earthquake in Afghanistan]. Java-bode (in Dutch). Agence France-Presse. 12 June 1956.
- ^ a b c "70 doden door aardbeving in Afghanistan". Provinciale Drentsche en Asser Courant (in Dutch). 16 June 1956.
- ^ a b "Nieuwe slachtoffers van aardbevingen in Afghanistan". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). 19 June 1956.
- ^ "Afghaanse koning ziek". Algemeen Handelsblad (in Dutch). 14 June 1956.
- ^ "Tot nu toe 270 doden bij aardbeving in Afghanistan". De Tijd (in Dutch). 18 June 1956.
- ^ "De aardbeving in Afghanistan". Het Nieuwsblad van het Zuiden (in Dutch). 18 June 1956.
- ^ "Nederlandsche Roode Kruis helpt Afghanistan". Nieuwsblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). 16 June 1956.
Further reading edit
- Ambraseys, N.; Bilham, R. (2013). "The tectonic setting of Bamiyan and the seismicity in and near Afghanistan for the past 12 centuries". In Margottini, C. (ed.). After the Destruction of Giant Buddha Statues in Bamiyan (Afghanistan) in 2001: A UNESCO's Emergency Activity for the Recovering and Rehabilitation of Cliff and Niches. Natural Science in Archaeology. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. ISBN 978-3-642-30051-6.
- Ambraseys, N.; Bilham, R. (2003). "Earthquakes in Afghanistan". Seismological Research Letters. 74 (2): 107–123. doi:10.1785/gssrl.74.2.107. ISSN 0895-0695.
- Heuckroth, L. E., Karim, R. A., USAID/Afghanistan., & Kabul Research Foundation. (1970). Earthquake History, Seismicity, and Tectonics of the Regions of Afghanistan. Kabul: Kabul University, Faculty of Engineering, Seismological Center.