1456 Central Italy earthquakes

1456 Central Italy earthquakes
1456 Central Italy earthquakes is located in Italy
1456 Central Italy earthquakes
Magnitude7.19–7.4 Mw  (December 5)
7.0 Mw  (December 30)
Depth12–25 km
Epicenter41°18′07″N 14°42′40″E / 41.302°N 14.711°E / 41.302; 14.711Coordinates: 41°18′07″N 14°42′40″E / 41.302°N 14.711°E / 41.302; 14.711
Areas affectedKingdom of Naples
Max. intensityXI (Extreme)
TsunamiYes
Casualties30,000–70,000 dead

On December 5, the largest earthquake to occur on the Italian Peninsula struck the Kingdom of Naples. The earthquake had an estimated moment magnitude of 7.19–7.4 Mw , and nucleated near the town of Pontelandolfo in present-day Province of Benevento, central Italy. Earning a level of XI (Extreme) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale, the earthquake caused widespread destruction in central and southern Italy. An estimated 30,000–70,000 people were killed. It was followed by two strong Mw  7.0 and 6.0 earthquakes to the north on December 30.

Tectonic setting

The central Italian Peninsula is dominated by active extensional tectonics, forming the Apennine Mountains. The mountain range formed during the Miocene and Pliocene due to the subduction of the Adriatic Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate. The resulting subduction formed a fold and thrust belt. During the Quaternary, thrust tectonics gave way to extensional tectonics, with the development of a zone of normal faulting running along the crest of the mountain range. One explanation is that slab rollback is occurring within the Adriatic Plate as it subducts beneath the Tyrrhenian Sea. Another explanation is because the back-arc basin in the Tyrrhenian Sea is opening at a faster rate than the African Plate is colliding with the Eurasian Plate. Extensional tectonics in the region have been active since the since the Pliocene epoch, mainly accommodated by northwest–southeast striking normal faults. The faults associated with large earthquakes on the peninsula are geologically young in age, and rarely rupture the surface. Occasionally, strike-slip events like the 1456 sequence, as well as the 1971 (Mw  5.0) and 2012 (Mw  4.6) moderate earthquakes in the southern Apennine region suggest the dominant style of faulting is not limited to normal dip-slip.

Earthquakes

December 5

The shock of December 5 was estimated at Mw  7.19 ± 0.1 by the 2014 version of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology earthquake catalog. Its magnitude has been estimated to be as high as Mw  7.4. Based on studying the macroseismic effects of the event, three distinct subevents separated by several seconds were discovered. The earthquake occurred in a region of active crustal movement along east–west striking strike-slip faults. The rupture process involved a complex cascade of independent faults rupturing subsequentially; as many as five subevents constituated the mainshock. The earthquake rupture extended from Abruzzo to Irpinia.

Northwest-southeast trending normal faults are thought to be the source of the quake. Unlike most earthquakes in the area with rupture occurring in the shallow 12 km of the crust, the source of the 1456 earthquake was between 12 and 25 km beneath. The 1456 earthquake subsequentlly triggered future earthquakes nearby due to the behavior of faults in the area. Another hypothesis suggest the earthquakes were strike-slip events that occurred at a depth of 10–25 km. The December 5 event occurred along a west-northwest-east-southeast striking oblique right-lateral fault. It ruptured east of the fault that caused the earthquake of 1688.

December 30

Another similar fault located further north, in Matese generated the shock of December 30. Many large aftershocks accompanied the earthquake on December 5. Intensity X–XI was felt in a northwest-southeast trending configuration from Macchiagodena to Castelluccio Acquaborrana. It was also felt in an east-west area from Boiano to Cercemaggiore. The widespread distribution of great intensity and its similarities with the December 5 event suggest the December 30 quake occurred at a deeper depth (>10 km). Based on evaluating the reported intensities of the December 30 event, its magnitude is no greater than Mw  7.2.

A third shock was recorded in the area affected by the December 30 event. This earthquake was felt VIII–IX over a wide area as well, suggesting a deep focal origin. A moment magnitude of 6.0 was estimated.

Effects

Intensity

Complete destruction occurred in a zone measuring 6,000 km2. Whereas the total area affected was 18,000 km2. The area of devastation was unusually large compared to most earthquakes in Italy; thought to be caused by the occurrence of multiple ruptures.

The meizoseismal area stretched for nearly 180 km, assigned X–XI (Extreme), where destruction of structures occurred. The unusually large area of the meizoseismal area is caused by multiple faults, separated by significant distances rupturing. The commune of Caramanico Terme experienced a maximum intensity of XI. Intensity IX–X was felt in the towns of Tocco da Casauria, Torre de' Passeri and Castiglione a Casauria. From the lower Aterno Valley (in the north), to Sulmona, and Navelli (in the southeast), the intensity was VIII–IX. Intensity VIII–IX was felt over an area that was 40 km wide. About 20 km away, the intensity gradually fell to V.

Tsunami

A series of anomalous waves in the port of Naples also caused boats to crash. There was also reports of a tsunami in the Gulf of Taranto, where it struck the Ionian coastline.

Impact

The December 5 shock struck at 11:00 pm local time, lasting approximately 150 seconds. Devastation was reported in five of the 20 regions of Italy; Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Puglia, and Basilicata; whereas some damage occurred in Lazio and Calabria.

The earthquake of December 30 at 9:30 pm which measured Mw  7.0 was not as severe in Napoli. Regions closer to the epicenter reported in serious damage. Documentation of heavy destruction in Sannio and the Campana Plain might be due to conflicting reports of the previous event. Major damage occurred in Isernia. There was no damage in the areas between Castel di Sangro and Sulmona. Additional damage also occurred due to the aftershocks, which persisted up till early 1457. The aftershock sequence only ended in May 1457.

Casualties

As many as 70,000 people were killed in the earthquakes. In the town of Isernia, catastrophic damage occurred; 1,500 residents of the total 2,035 perished. Between 100 and 150 people died in Naples due to many homes and churches collapsing. Another 100 people died in Pozzuoli. There were between 600 and 2,200 fatalities in Apice, 2,000 in Barberio, more than 1,000 in Lafino, 400 in Cerreto Sannita, and 1,200 in Acerenza.

Aftermath

Several villages in the affected area were abandoned. Alfonso V of Aragon, the King of Aragon, received news of the disaster while he was residing in Apulia. He would only return to Naples in early February 1457, where he declined tax exemption requests by survivors in the affected towns. Alfonso V stated that the survivors were able to pay taxes as they inherited the fortune of those who were killed. Reconstructions by the authorities were limited; only military fortresses, roads and bridges were supported in the interest of the military.

See also


This page was last updated at 2022-05-30 18:40 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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