October is a very special month for Peruvians, due to the procession of the Lord of Miracles. It is also associated with tremorssince the large earthquakes that have previously occurred in the country occurred during that month, for example in 1746, which had 8.6 on the Richter scale.
In this context and so that people can take precautions, Positiva Seguros presents which are the three most vulnerable districts in the face of an earthquake in Lima, according to their type of soil and other relevant characteristics.
Villa El Salvador
The soft, sandy and unstable soil of VES, especially on the hills and dunes, makes the district extremely prone to severe damage if an earthquake occurs in the capital.
San Juan de Lurigancho
SJL is one of the places with a high probability that houses in the areas will suffer severe damage if an earthquake occurs, especially because there is a high density of self-built homes, that is, without the supervision of expert professionals in the field.
Chorrillos
The sectors near the Villa Reservoir have “bad soils”, where densification and buildings must be restricted, due to their swampy consistency. Therefore, the district and the surrounding area may suffer serious consequences.
Why do tremors constantly occur in Peru?
This is because Peru is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of seismic activity where approximately 85% of the telluric movements in the world originate. Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia and other countries are in that area.
Why is October known as the month of earthquakes?
This is because in Lima, on several occasions, earthquakes of strong magnitude have occurred that month. In fact, the strongest occurred in October 1746, 1974 and 1966. Although, there are earthquakes that also occurred in other months of the year.
What is the relationship between the Lord of Miracles and tremors?
In 1655 when a strong earthquake occurred in Lima, the wall where the image of the Lord of Miracles was drawn was the only one that remained, so people considered that as a miracle. Later, in 1746, a seismic movement occurred that, according to many historians, calmed down when the image went out in procession.
What items should you include in your emergency backpack?
This must contain the items that ensure survival during the first 24 hours. Some of these are flashlight, whistle, cash, warm clothing, blanket, first aid kit, hygiene items, non-perishable food and drinks, battery-powered radio, etc.
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 abruptly 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.