1936 Cansiglio earthquake
  | |
| Date | October 18, 1936 |
|---|---|
| Magnitude | 5.9 ML |
| Epicenter | 46°02′N 12°29′E / 46.03°N 12.48°ECoordinates: 46°02′N 12°29′E / 46.03°N 12.48°E[1] |
| Areas affected | Italy, Cansiglio |
| Max. intensity | IX (Violent) |
| Casualties | 19 |
The 1936 Cansiglio earthquake occurred on October 18 in the region between the provinces of Belluno, Treviso and Pordenone, in northern Italy. It caused 19 deaths and an unknown number of injuries.[1]
Earthquake
The main shock came a few hours before dawn, at 4.10 a.m.[2] its epicenter on the Cansiglio plateau near the towns of Fiaschetti, Stevenà and Villa di Villa.
The earthquake was moderate in magnitude (5.9 on the Richter magnitude scale) but was rated as IX (Violent) on the Mercalli intensity scale. The towns near the epicenter received extensive damage, most of their buildings made inhabitable or destroyed.[3] The Cansiglio plateau is an agricultural high plain, where building were mostly made of poor materials and traditional techniques
The earthquake was felt in the whole northern and central Italy, in Slovenia, Austria and Switzerland.[3] While some sources report no casualties,[2] other official sources list 19 dead.[4] Aftershocks came frequently for a few days, and lasted until March 1937.
The hypocenter was estimated in 15–18 km, much higher than the 37–51 km of other earthquakes in the area. The estimate is disputed, and a new estimate of 43 km was calculated with a macroseismic approach.[5]
The region north of Cansiglio, called Conca d'Alpago, also experienced severe damage. Fifty to seventy percent of the buildings in the towns of Puos d'Alpago and Cornei received critical damage and became unfit for use.
The quake caused damage in Sacile, Vittorio Veneto and in the valleys of Livenza and Meschio rivers, with most of the residential buildings receiving some degree of damage. Belluno, Conegliano and San Vito al Tagliamento, along with other 40 minor towns, reported some damage and a few collapsed buildings.[3] Minor consequences were received by the cities of Bolzano and Venice, mostly collapsed plaster and chimneys.
In Vittorio Veneto the Ceneda district was badly hit, four building collapsed, 40 critically damaged and over 300 in need of restoration works. The Seminary received so much damage it had to be partially demolished. Severe damage was sustained by many public buildings, includind the Cathedral, the Carabinieri headquarter, the Tax Office and the town hall. Total damage was assessed at 4 millions lire. Due to the high damage sustained, Vittorio Veneto was later added, along with some nearby comuni to the list of town subject to seismic risk.
The rebuilding, overseen by the city prefect Aldo Marinotti, was slow, and took over two years to start.
Previous events
On June 29, 1873 an earthquake struck the area, its epicenter on the Alpago basin, damaging many towns and cities including Belluno and its province, where 40 people died. 54 other casualties were reported, including 38 people killed by the collapse of a church in San Pietro di Feletto during the morning mass.
See also
References
- 1 2 Guidoboni, Emanuela; Ferrari G.; Mariotti D.; Comastri A.; Tarabusi G. & Valensise G. (2007). "CFTI4Med, Catalogue of Strong Earthquakes in Italy (461 BC.–1997) and Mediterranean Area (760 BC.–1500)". INGV-SGA. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
- 1 2 Della Libera, Antonio (1990). "ATTIVITÀ SISMICA NELLE PREALPI NORD-ORIENTALI". Il Flaminio. 5. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- 1 2 3 "Meteo Terremoti: Il terremoto di Cansiglio". Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- ↑ IISEE website
- ↑ Agamennone, Giovanni. "Studio macrosismico del terremoto del Cansiglio (Friuli) del 18 Ottobre 1936". Pure and Applied Geophysics. 9 (1-2): 19–29. doi:10.1007/bf01995830. Retrieved 25 July 2011.