Timebomb in Santiago

Adrian Bye

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Jul 7, 2002
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I was sent the following information from US researchers that investigated the 2003 earthquakes.

Full PDF of their report is here: http://tasdevil.com/earthquake_info.pdf

Adrian

Title: Fault researchers show high risk of a future, destructive earthquake in the Cibao Valley and north coast area

A group of researchers led by Dr. Eric Calais of Purude Univ of USA are using GPS geodetic data showing how the Caribbean is presently moving to calculate how stresses are accumulating along the major active faults crossing the island of Hispaniola (Fig. 1). This work was reported at a special session on earthquake hazards at the 18th Caribbean Geological Conf held at the Jaragua Hotel in SD (March 24-29).
- Two main faults cross the island: the Septentrional fault in the Cibao valley and the Enriquillo fault in the Eriquillo valley. Both are long and linear strike-slip faults that resemble the San Andreas fault ofCalifornia. Two other faults are found offshore: the North Hispaniola fault zone and the Muertos fault. These offshore faults are accommodate thrusting motion of the island over the Atlantic andCaribbean (cf. EOS article below for figures to use here).
- The best studied of these faults is the Septentrional fz that was studied in detail by a team led by Dr. Carol Prentice of the US Geological Survey in the late 1990s (cf. attached pdf of the final report/publication for that project). This work which excavated parts of the fault using a backhoe showed that the SFZ was an active fault that can be traced the length of the Cibao valley. Dating of young sediments uncovered in the fault excavations showed that the SFZ near Tenares and El Licey has not moved - or has remained “locked”- since a M7 earthquake that broke the fault in the prehistoric interval between AD 1040 and AD 1230. For that reason the central part of the SFZ has accumulated over 4.8 m of potential slip that can be released at any time to produce an earthquake predicted to be greater than M7.
- The SFZ passes within 10 km of the rapidly developing city of Santiago, the Santiago airport, Moca, Monte Criste, Salcedo and Samana. Sudden motion on a fault of this size in such close proximity to urbanized areas may result in widespread loss of life, building and bridge collapse, landslides, fires, ruptured water, sewage and gas pipelines, ruptured dams and bridges, and broken electrical transmission wires. Shock waves would be smaller since they dissipate with distance - but waves originating in the Cibao Valley could still affect Santo Domingo.
- Well known destructive earthquakes occurring on other parts of the Caribbean plate boundary include the 1692 earthquake of Port Royal, Jamaica (magnitude unknown; between 1000-3000 fatalities), the 1972 Managua earthquake (M6.2; 6000 dead) and the 1976 Guatemala earthquake (M6.8; 25,000 dead). Smaller M6 earthquakes occurring within densely populated and urbanized areas like theCibao Valley can be more deadly than much larger M7 events that occur on more distant faults. The earthquake fault of the Managua earthquake ran directly beneath the downtown area and destroyed 90% of the city, much of which remains unbuilt.
- The 1842 Hispaniola earthquake was so destructive and lethal (exact death toll unknown) that it helped Dominicans win independence from Haiti in 1844. Researchers think that the 1842 earthquake may have been a rupture of the SFZ in the western Cibao Valley and area north of Haiti. The 1972 Managua earthquake helped destabilize the Somoza dictatorship and contributed to a protracted civil war from 1979 to 1990.
- Calais et al. have also included the effects of historical earthquakes that have affected the island in 1842, 1948, and 2002. The effect of some large earthquakes is to relieve stress on faults while other earthquakes act to increase stress on faults and make them more susceptible to the sudden fault failure that would produce a large earthquake.
- The new Calais fault stress model shows that historical earthquakes in the northern part of the island have increased stresses on the SFZ and the North Hispaniola fault in the area of the Cibao Valley, the Cordillera Septentional, and tourist areas including the city of Puerto Plata, Sosua and the Puerto Plata airport (cf. his attached map of red zones).
- Stresses are lower along the Enriquillo fault in the southern, less populated part of the island in part because large earthquakes moved through that area in the 18th century and acted to reduce the stress build up.
- As concluded in the earlier Prentice et al. study, the Cibao Valley remains a zone of high risk for an earthquake calculated to be greater than M7. The infrequent occurrence of large earthquakes should not be interpreted by the public and government authorities to mean that there is less earthquake hazard through time. On the contrary, infrequent earthquakes means that large faults are locked, building up stress in the form of elastic energy in the earth’s crust that is eventually released in a destructive event. An analogy is that the crust in the northern part of the island is like a large rubber band that has been pulled back for over 800 years and is now near the threshold of breaking to produce a large earthquake.
The Calais study warns civilian, civil defense, and military authorities to make preparations for a large earthquake of this size in the Cibao Valley. The most recent earthquake of 22 Sept 2003 was M6.5 and resulted in 4 fatalities and minor building damage. The complete “pancake-style” collapse of a three story, concrete slab elementary school near Puerto Plata did not produce fatalities since the main shock of the earthquake occurred when the building was unoccupied by the xxx teachers and students at 12:45 pm local time. Earthquakes that occur during working hours can be more lethal since multistory office buildings, airports, major highways and overpasses that are more prone to sudden collapse are full of people and cars.

Related web links for more information on risk of large earthquakes in the DR:

Maps showing recent earthquakes in Hispaniola:
Welcome to the U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program

General description of 2003 eq at:
http://www.ig.utexas.edu/outreach/dr_earthquake/publications/Mann_et_al_DReq_EOS_2004.pdf

Maps of 2003 damage areas compiled by CODIA at:
Dominican Republic Earthquake - 22 September 2003

How homeowners can protect property before a large earthquake:
Esta Usted Preparado Por Un Terremoto?

earthquake_image.jpg
 

suarezn

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Feb 3, 2002
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From the map it looks like we're good in Cotui...I wouldn't be moving to Puerto Plata though.
 

Hillbilly

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Jan 1, 2002
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I am pretty sure we looked at this a couple of years ago. O. Franco is a good friend of mine and has worked on this stuff for years....AND there is a mistake in that it says that the Sept 22 quake (6.5) was at 12: 45 p.m. when , in reality it was at 12:45 A>M.
Yet another mistake is the date of the 1946 quake (NOT 1948!!), an 8 according to some...
that fault line is an important one and we really can expect a "big one" just about any day...

HB
 

Lambada

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Mar 4, 2004
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Which one of the links is the new one Adrian? The one above is the report in JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 108, NO. B3, 2149, doi:10.1029/2001JB000442, 2003

Still a useful reminder, though, for newer residents who didn't live through the 2003 quake to get themselves quake prepared & for what to do when it comes.

That was my first quake of any magnitude & it was terrifying. The first aftershock, even though 5.2 was less so because by then we knew what it was.

The only thing I'd add to all the advice is some of your dogs will give you warning. One of ours was particularly sensitive to this & throughout the several weeks of aftershocks she would get distressed about 30 seconds in advance, & run to find me. Frequently it was enough time for me to get to the garden before the aftershock came. Now we have a wall mounted alarm as well. :)
 

Ringo

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Mar 6, 2003
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We lived in the San Francisco Bay area when the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake of M 7.1 hit.

You can Google and find photos and how large the area was that was damaged.

Living in CA we all had small rock and roll times and knew that a larger one would hit CA, just a matter of time. "If you live on a crack in the earth, its' your own fault" was/is very well known.

Guess we will put together more emergency supplies.

Regards, Ringo
 

Eric_Calais

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Mar 30, 2008
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Re. errors noted by Hillbilly:
- correct that 1948 should read 1946
- correct that time was 00:45 AM

More info on the 2030 eq on
Magnitude 6.4 - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REGION
and
Dominica Republic Earthquake GPS

Hillbilly is also correct that, in many ways, this "old news". But that is the disturbing part. Several of us have been working on eq hazard in Hispaniola for >10 years and have long recognized the hazard associated with the Septentrional fault in the Cibao valley. We have tried many times to alert decision makers and the public -- with little to no success. This recent study is a more quantitative analysis of the stress changes (earthquakes are triggered by high levels of stress in the earth crust) in the NE Caribbean (2 papers currently in press in peer-reviewed literature). No surprise, the Cibao valley is a big red blob with the highest level of stresses in Hispaniola (for E-W strike-slip faults)... As a scientist I can defend the conclusion. How do I pass it along to decision makers and to the public to actually have an impact? That is the hard question. Ideas welcome...
 

CFA123

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May 29, 2004
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The 2003 quake as Lambada says was a true 'event'. One I won't forget & I still to this day look for my 'path out' any time I stay the night somewhere new. There's not always a quick escape route, but I do look. ;)

I'm not sure anyone mentioned it on DR1, but there was a 4.3 quake on March 3rd that scared the hell out of me at about 2:30 in the morning. Big boom, shook the whole building and the sofa I was on jumped. I thought a car had hit the building. (Neighbors slept through it.) I didn't relate it to a quake at the time as it was just one single big hit, unlike the 2003 quake that went on for several seconds. I did have that same eerie feeling (can't describe) after it that I did after the '03 quake.

Only one other person I know felt this 4.3 that night

USGS Earthquake Hazards Program: Earthquake Location: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC


neic_pday.jpg
 

Rocky

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Apr 4, 2002
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If I remember correctly, shortly after that Sept 22 quake, the info in the OP was made public.
It was made quite clear that there is a huge fault and that we could expect more biggies.
 

CFA123

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May 29, 2004
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Wouldn't it be interesting to know the % of home buyers here who have absolutely no concept of the seismic activity & 'big event' predicted for sometime in the future?

Of course, considering everything else that many are unaware of... :ermm:
 

sabra

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Jun 16, 2007
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timebomb in santiago

The 2003 quake as Lambada says was a true 'event'. One I won't forget & I still to this day look for my 'path out' any time I stay the night somewhere new. There's not always a quick escape route, but I do look. ;)

I'm not sure anyone mentioned it on DR1, but there was a 4.3 quake on March 3rd that scared the hell out of me at about 2:30 in the morning. Big boom, shook the whole building and the sofa I was on jumped. I thought a car had hit the building. (Neighbors slept through it.) I didn't relate it to a quake at the time as it was just one single big hit, unlike the 2003 quake that went on for several seconds. I did have that same eerie feeling (can't describe) after it that I did after the '03 quake.

Only one other person I know felt this 4.3 that night

USGS Earthquake Hazards Program: Earthquake Location: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC


neic_pday.jpg

I didn,t feel this one (cabarete), but friends of mine living in yslabon (near sabaneta) and others in veragua (as well near sabaneta) felt it.
All the years living here, sometimes I felt little squakes(ca. 2 to 3), sometimes am sleeping deeper and checking nothing.
the big one in 2003 we all felt here in the house. but I wonder, no doggy,
not mine, neither the neighbours doggies gave signals before.
after the squake they just had been exited to be allowed to play outside, because we waited in the street for around 2 hours. I just remember that on this afternoon the cat was confused.
sabra
 

sabra

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Jun 16, 2007
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Which one of the links is the new one Adrian? The one above is the report in JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 108, NO. B3, 2149, doi:10.1029/2001JB000442, 2003

Still a useful reminder, though, for newer residents who didn't live through the 2003 quake to get themselves quake prepared & for what to do when it comes.

That was my first quake of any magnitude & it was terrifying. The first aftershock, even though 5.2 was less so because by then we knew what it was.

The only thing I'd add to all the advice is some of your dogs will give you warning. One of ours was particularly sensitive to this & throughout the several weeks of aftershocks she would get distressed about 30 seconds in advance, & run to find me. Frequently it was enough time for me to get to the garden before the aftershock came. Now we have a wall mounted alarm as well. :)
lambada, may I ask you about the "wall mounted alarm". Is this a self-construction or is it possible to buy, and if yes, where?:ermm:
regards sabra
 

Hillbilly

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Jan 1, 2002
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Eric_Calais: Thank you for confirming those small errors. It seemed to me that the Original posting was hurriedly written, I don't know why....maybe to get it out there as fast as possible.

No matter. I do agree with you on the lack of awareness on the part of high government officials, and even though staid, calm and solid people like Orlando Franco, Rafael Corominas and others have warned about the realities involved, nobody is listening.

I have seen the faultline that goes through Santiago and Tamboril...I know that centuries ago, something really big happened. I have also seen the eastern part of the island where there is a part that seems to have broken off...

Of course I applaud your efforts and the efforts of all the geologists and earth scientists that are working to create awareness of the facts...

HB
 

CFA123

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May 29, 2004
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I didn,t feel this one (cabarete), but friends of mine living in yslabon (near sabaneta) and others in veragua (as well near sabaneta) felt it.

sabra, i'm in cabarete as well... it felt as if someone kicked the end of the sofa as hard as they could. it must've moved an inch or more with me on it(which is a weird feeling when you're the only one in the room). the friend who told me she felt it lives near camino del sol. had i been asleep, i might not have felt it, it was one big bump

it'll be interesting to see how the homes built on the 'sand' between the ocean and lagoon in cabarete hold up in a big quake - that is if there's not simply a several meter drop in elevation & we're all under water
 

sabra

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sabra, i'm in cabarete as well... it felt as if someone kicked the end of the sofa as hard as they could. it must've moved an inch or more with me on it(which is a weird feeling when you're the only one in the room). the friend who told me she felt it lives near camino del sol. had i been asleep, i might not have felt it, it was one big bump

it'll be interesting to see how the homes built on the 'sand' between the ocean and lagoon in cabarete hold up in a big quake - that is if there's not simply a several meter drop in elevation & we're all under water
....we,re all under water > this I try to repress, sometimes with
success, sometimes I think about to built up a tower or to run anway >>
but where? mostly I enjoy living here , day by day doing my best, hoping
all this will run for longer time and no big quake will be in the next 100 years.
I do not know, while this is really to be foreseen, next days I will read some
informations about all this.
for now, good night, saludas sabra:tired:
 

sabra

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Jun 16, 2007
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Sabra, an earthquake is usually not written with the s in the beginning. But I do so love your word ... Squake .. That's about how I felt in 2003. I was Squaking in terror! ;)

thanks chris, again a reason to do a little more to learn better english !
In 2003 I felt like you - our house was dancing . and after , while beeing outside to wait for the end of the following little quakes, suddenly the
street was dancing as well - uhhh, I was "squaking" together with the
neighbours.
let us hope not to have this experience again.
saludas, sabra:bunny:
 

Lambada

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lambada, may I ask you about the "wall mounted alarm". Is this a self-construction or is it possible to buy, and if yes, where?:ermm: regards sabra

If it was a self construction, knowing what I'm like with DIY, it'd probably warn me of impending revolution not earthquake. :cheeky:

Here is the item I have (plus an explanation CFA for your eerie feeling/disorientation) which works on sensing the "P" wave (compression wave) of an earthquake, which travels faster than the more destructive "S" wave (shear wave).
Earthquake Detector

En espa?ol aqui
Earthquake Detector

Email address of Carmen Mendoza (DR distributor) is here
Earthquake Detector

We got ours in 2005 & that time the local vendor (for Puerto Plata) was a S?r Inoa on 440-0418. He came, explained it & installed it. It then cost US$30 which then equalled RD$900. The vendor came from Montellano, if I recall correctly. You're probably better emailing Carmen to start with in case the vendor has changed. I wrote to her in Spanish & she replied in English (which probably tells you something about my grammar! ;) ).

Sabra, I think we trained Bachata very quickly once we realised her talent. The watchword was 'outside' when she felt something, so she became accustomed to letting us know. Mind you, she's a very bright dog. :)
 

Lambada

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Mar 4, 2004
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Guys, we have one of the world experts on earthquakes in the Dominican Republic reading this thread and posting (userid: eric_calais). Any questions for him? (Eric Calais - Purdue University)

He's trying to make sure we survive the big one...

Excellent! I don't have questions right now but I think we should help him with his.

How do I pass it along to decision makers and to the public to actually have an impact? That is the hard question. Ideas welcome...

On the macro level any chance of getting this in the arena of the current run up to Presidential elections? My concerns after the 2003 experience are mainly in relation to Dominicans not expats. Hopefully we knew to build our homes as safely as possible or buy homes already safely built but locals who haven't got resources will, as always, be the most vulnerable.

On the micro level public education maybe via Cruz Roja as to what is acceptable safety behaviour? For example, in 2003 when PP Cathedral was damaged everyone & his mother-in-law drove by the Cathedral next day to take a look, causing traffic jams in which people got trapped. I was in the area & being trapped in a traffic jam when the masonry could have come crashing down at any moment felt so unsafe. But everyone else was sooo unconcerned they just dawdled along. I would have abandoned my vehicle except that would have added to the traffic jam..........

What it comes down to is does any here have political pull to get Professor Calais work to decision makers?