Peru It is a seismic country because it is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, as well as Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, United States, Canada, among others. countries. Peruvian inhabitants are accustomed to earthquakes. To know the details regarding the seismic movements that occur in our territory, the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP) makes a daily report with updated information. You can follow all the details in this Depor note.
National Seismological Report
What is an earthquake?
An earthquake is the sudden movement of the Earth caused by the release of energy accumulated over a long time. These movements are generally slow and imperceptible, but in some cases, when one of the plates moves suddenly against the other, breaking it, this displacement releases a large amount of energy and causes earthquakes. Earthquakes and earthquakes also originate from the activation of seismic faults and the eruption of volcanoes.
How are earthquakes measured?
To measure the intensity of earthquakes and earthquakes, two scales are used: the Richter scale and the Mercalli scale. Below we explain what each of them consists of:
- The Richter scale It is a logarithm of magnitudes, that is, the measure of its strength in relation to the energy released and is calculated by measuring the maximum amplitude of seismic waves. The magnitude does not increase exponentially. With each more point the energy released on the surface is multiplied by more than 30.
- The Mercalli scale It goes from 1 to 12 and is written in Roman numerals. It is based on the effect or damage produced in the structures and the sensation perceived by people, that is, it evaluates the intensity of the earthquake according to these indicators, so it may be different in the affected areas.
What to do in case of an earthquake?
Before
- Hire an engineer to reinforce your home.
- Locate safe areas and firm structures to protect yourself.
- Have an emergency backpack ready.
- Educate the children in your home about precautionary measures.
- Participate in earthquake drills in your neighborhood.
During
- Don’t call on the phone. The line will be overloaded, so text instead.
- Don’t use the elevator.
- Keep calm. Being scared can only paralyze you or make you make mistakes.
- Stay away from windows and objects that could fall.
- If you can’t get to the exit quickly, look for a safe space.
After
- Check for gas leaks that could cause a fire.
- Call emergency numbers such as: firefighters 116, Red Cross (01) 2660481 and the Mobile Emergency Care System (SAMU) 106.
- Help the injured.
- Be careful with possible aftershocks. Avoid being near houses that have been affected by the earthquake.
- If you are near the sea, stay away from the area until the possibility of a tsunami is ruled out.
What should you have in an emergency backpack?
To deal with a disaster situation, during an evacuation you must carry the emergency backpack, which must be well equipped and weigh about 8 kilos. In addition to having internal, side and front pockets depending on availability and the same number of items depending on the number of family members. The backpack must contain:
- Essential hygiene items.
- First aid kit.
- Coat.
- Non-perishable food and money.
- Communication articles.
- Specific items for babies and infants, for women’s use, for the elderly, and for other basic needs.