Earthquake in Lorca (2011)

By: Andrea Santiago Cuenca. 3rd Eso B

Scientific information on the catastrophe.

Earthquakes ocour when two tectonic plates move suddenly against each other. The rocks usualy break underground at the hypocentre and the earth shakes. Waves spread from the epicentre , the point on the surface above the hypocentre. If a quake occurs under the sea it can produce a tsunami.

Location

Lorca stands in the southeast of Spain. In this area is a the seismic area more activitie in Spain. In Lorca many earthquakes been produced in the last hundred years.

Story about the catastrophe

On 11th May 2011, at 17:05 hours there was in Lorca a first earthquake, after was a second earthquake, the strongest in the last 500 years, at 18:47 hours of 5.2 degrees. In the area is locate the limit of the two plates: Euroasian and African plate. This catastrophe was serious because of the little depth and a magnitude. The earthquake ocurred at 10 kilometers deep and 3 kilometers to distance. Under Sierra Tercia was were the epicenter. There were twenty replicas in just 6 hours. The earthquake felt in Murcia, Jan, Almeria, Albacete, Granada, Cuidad Real...

Conssequences, effects.

Homes were destroyed.The name of the derived are 1164 After the earthquakes, the 80% of the homes were damage. Many people lost their homes. Also 20 historic constructions were damaged. The Castle of Lorca, Virgen de las huertas santuary, the curch Santiago and San Diego...

Casualties, injured, health related effects

In this catastrophe 9 people died, were 293injured and 20000 people slept in the street. Many ambulances were tranported into the hospital patients because the structure of the hospital was damaged to other hospital in the area. The great majority of habitants of Lorca were slept in camp some time until they got a new home. Schools and Highschools closed their doors. Was Medicalpost and psichological care was given to people.

Mention some other catastrophes of the same kind.

Earthquake in Bullas on 6th august 2002. This earthquake was 5.0 degrees. During 24 hours were detected 123 reply and 24 exeeded the magnitude 2.0 degrees. Earthquake in La Paca on 29th january 2005. This earthquake was 4,8 degrees. In 24 hours were detected 69 reply and 13 exeeded the magnitude 2.0 degrees. Two largest aftershocks followed one week later than magitude 4.3 and 4.0 degrees

Did you know that...?

The event has produced the same power as an explosion of 200 tons of TNT.

Tips on how we can protect ourselves in case of a...

If the earthquake is not strong, stay calm. If the earthquake is strong is important: If you inside a building, stay inside, if you are in the street, stay in the street, but can caused accidents. If you are inside the building, get under a table or a door frame. You don't use the elevator or go near electrical wires. Outside the buildings don't go near the buildings.

Bibliographi.
Photos: Google Images Information: Wikipedia, El Pas, La vanguardia.