Known as a reverse fault, this fault system is estimated to be around 60 kilometers long, but it is segmented.
At least two other aftershocks have been felt in Quito and its surroundings since the 4.6 earthquake that struck the Nayón parish this Tuesday, around 11:03 a.m. Other replicas of this earthquake are expected, which is due to the Quito fault, according to experts from the Geophysical Institute of National Policy.
The characteristics indicate that the intensity of the earthquake was 5-6 on the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS), according to the Geophysicist’s bulletin. The epicenter of the 4.6 MLv movement, 12 kilometers deep, was located 3 km south-west of Puembo. The other two most intense aftershocks occurred at 11:14, 1.4 MLv; and at 11:31, from 1.0 MLv.
There have been stones falling, but there are no major effects or news to regret, according to Daniela Valarezo, director of Security for the Metropolitan Municipality of Quito. Some homes suffered minor non-structural damage, such as very thin cracks and falling pieces of plaster, Geophysicist authorities said.
Most of the reports come from the province of Pichincha, although due to the proximity to the event there are also reports from the province of Cotopaxi and Imbabura.
The information received by the Geophysicist indicates that the event was felt throughout the city of Quito, in addition that several objects moved or swayed and fell from their shelves.
What is the Quito Falla
Under the Ecuadorian capital there is an underlying fracture that is in the earth’s crust that is known as the Quito Falla and is characterized by making the area where the city is located on the valleys of Los Chillos and Tumbaco.
The great structure that crosses the entire valley in the Ecuadorian capital originates to the south, in the Santa Rosa sector, in Tambillo, and extends to San Antonio de Pichincha, in the Middle of the World. It crosses the entire valley of the capital where sectors such as La Ecuatoriana, Guamaní, the historic center, north center of the city and Pomasqui are located, according to experts from the Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic.
Known as a reverse fault, this fault system is estimated to be around 60 kilometers long, but it is segmented. It has the characteristic of being like a plane on which large blocks move.
The Quito fault is evidenced in the formation of a chain of hills that runs along the eastern profile of the city: El Tablon, Puengasí, Lumbisí, Batán-La Bota, Carcelén-El Inca, Calderón-Bellavista and Catequilla.
The fault that began its activity 2 million years ago constantly generates relief. “The valleys are lower than Quito and the activity continues. In the last millions of years a relief of 500 meters has been generated, approximately ”, said the expert of the Geophysical Institute Alexandra Alvarado in an interview a couple of years ago.
The Quito fault occurred centuries ago due to the movement of the Nazca plate towards the interior of the continent. This is permanently accumulating because the Nazca plate pushes the South American plate. The threat under the Ecuadorian capital persists because there is accumulated energy there. (I)
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