Geophysicist records ‘swarm of earthquakes’ related to the Quito fault

Ecuadortimes:

A swarm of earthquakes was recorded in Quito on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 between 1:28 and 10:00 pm, reported the Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic. During that time, seven tremors were reported with small magnitudes.

“Because of its location and focal mechanisms found (of reverse failure) are associated with one of the segments of the Quito fault, which passes under the city,” explained the Geophysicist in a report issued at 23:20. “What has been recorded today corresponds to a swarm of earthquakes, with small magnitudes.

These swarms have already been presented on other occasions and typically, the activity decreases after a few days, however, it can not be ruled out that an earthquake of greater magnitude may occur, given that we are on an active fault, “said the Geophysicist. According to the map, the seven earthquakes were recorded in the north of Quito.

Five of the epicenters of the tremors were located under the western zone, between the vicinity of La Comuna and El Bosque, on the av. Mariscal Sucre. Another was reported at the height of La Carolina and the last in the Quito Tennis. “The earthquakes are of small magnitude, but as they are under the city, they feel more and this behavior is what is expected in this type of failure,” said the Geophysical Institute.

Four earthquakes of less than 3 degrees were recorded in the north of Quito on the night of Tuesday, May 28, 2019, reported the Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic School (IG). The first, at 20:13, was 2.11 in magnitude; the second, at 21:37, reached the magnitude 2.54; the third, at 20:13, of 2.11 in magnitude; and the fourth, at 22:00, exceeded the previous ones with 2.78 in magnitude.

According to the report of the Geophysicist, the first telluric movement was located at 4.09 kilometers of depth and the second had a depth of 5.37 km. The third was more superficial and registered at 1.46 km, while the fourth was recorded at 5 km.

People reported in the Facebook profile of the IG that tremors were felt throughout Quito, in sectors of the north, center and south of the city. 

Citizens wrote messages on the social network where they said that the earthquakes were felt in northern sectors such as the Metropolitan Hospital, San Gabriel School, La Mañosca, El Bosque, La Gasca, La Carolina, Guapulo; from the center, in San Juan and in the Cumbayá valley. 

At 22:55, the emergency service ECU 911 reported that 75 calls for consultation were received by the earthquakes. Authorities said there were no damages to people or buildings due to earthquakes. The earthquakes recorded in Quito on Tuesday night registered a magnitude higher than the three previous earthquakes. The first occurred at 1:28 pm and had a magnitude of 2.7 degrees. At 13:31 a second movement with a magnitude of 2.6 was reported and at 13:34 the third quake of 1.4 degrees. (I)

Source: https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/sismos-grados-norte-quito-temblores.html