1908 Messina earthquake
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The Messina earthquake took some 60,000–200,000 lives on December 28, 1908 in Sicily and southern Italy.
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[edit] Quake
On December 28, 1908 at 5:21 am an earthquake of Richter magnitude 7.5 occurred centered on Messina, a city in Sicily. Reggio Calabria on the Italian mainland also suffered heavy damage. The ground shook for some 30 to 40 seconds, and the destruction was felt within a 300 km radius. Moments after the earthquake, a 40 feet (12 m) tsunami struck nearby coasts causing even more devastation. This has been called the fourth largest tsunami in history[1]. 91% of structures in Messina were destroyed and some 100,000 residents, out of 150,000, were killed.[2] Rescuers searched through the rubble for weeks, and whole families were still being pulled out alive days later.[citation needed] Buildings in the area had not been constructed for earthquake resistance, having heavy roofs and vulnerable foundations.[3]
[edit] Relief efforts
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The disaster made headlines worldwide and international relief efforts were launched. With the help of the Red Cross and sailors of the Russian and British fleets, search and cleanup were expedited. Treatment centers were located north of Sicily in Naples.
[edit] Cause
The cause of this earthquake is due to normal faulting between plates. Italy sits along the boundary zone of the African Continental plate and this plate is pushing against the seafloor underneath Europe at a rate of 1-inch (25 mm) per year. This causes vertical displacement which in turn can cause earthquakes[4].
[edit] Aftermath
In the years following 1908, precautions were taken when reconstruction began, building architecture that would be able to withstand earthquakes of variable magnitude, if one should strike again. In the midst of reconstruction many of the Italian residents were relocated to various parts of Italy. However, in 1909 some 850 survivors who were not relocated emigrated to America, specifically[clarification needed] were taken to calm them down. Eventually the survivors were rescued at sea and brought into the New York harbor where they would start a new life[5].
[edit] References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Messina Earthquake |
[edit] External links
- Messina Earthquake Original reports from The Times
