1983 Coalinga earthquake
 Los Angeles
Susanville
Coalinga
Avenal
 |
|
| Date | May 2, 1983 |
|---|---|
| Origin time | 23:42 UTC |
| Magnitude | 6.2 Mw |
| Depth | 10 kilometers (6 mi) |
| Epicenter | 36°14′N 120°19′W / 36.23°N 120.31°W |
| Type | Blind thrust |
| Areas affected |
Central California United States |
| Total damage | $10 million USD |
| Max. intensity | VIII (Severe) |
| Landslides | Yes |
| Aftershocks | 5.9 MW July 22 at 02:39 |
| Casualties | 94 injured |
The 1983 Coalinga earthquake occurred on May 2 at exactly 23:42 UTC in Coalinga, California. The earthquake measured 6.2 on the moment magnitude scale and had a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). The earthquake was caused by an unknown fault buried under the surface.
The shock was felt from the greater Los Angeles Area, north to Susanville in Lassen County, and from the coast east to western Nevada. Through July 31, more than 5,000 aftershocks were recorded, of which 894 had a magnitude of 2.5 or larger. Most of the larger magnitude shocks were felt in Coalinga.
The Coalinga earthquake was caused by an 0.5-meter uplift of the anticline ridge northeast of Coalinga, but surface faulting was not observed. Ground and aerial searches immediately after the earthquake revealed ground cracks and fissures within about 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) of the instrumental epicenter, none of which appeared to represent movement on deeply rooted fault structures. About five weeks later, on June 11, however, an aftershock caused surface faulting about 12 km (7.5 mi) northwest of Coalinga.
This earthquake caused an estimated $10 million in property damage (according to the American Red Cross) and injured 94 people. Damage was most severe in Coalinga, where the 8-block downtown commercial district was almost completely destroyed. Here, buildings having unreinforced brick walls sustained the heaviest damage. Newer buildings, however, such as the Bank of America and the Guarantee Savings and Loan buildings, sustained only superficial damage. The most significant damage outside the Coalinga area occurred at Avenal, 31 kilometers (19 mi) southeast of the epicenter.
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