The NSF-funded Structural Extreme Events Reconnaissance (StEER) Network has issued the Virtual Assessment Structural Team (VAST) Report for the May 26, 2019, M8.0 Lagunas Peru Earthquake.
The earthquake occurred as the result of an intermediate-depth normal faulting rupture of the Nazca plate. Perú is located within the subduction zone of the Nazca plate which subducts in an eastern downward motion relative to the South America plate at a velocity of approximately 7 cm/yr (about 2.7 inch/yr). Intermediate-depth subduction events are relatively common in northern Perú and western South America. They typically cause less damage on the ground surface above their foci than similar-magnitude shallow-focus earthquakes, but large intermediate-depth earthquakes may be felt at great distance from their epicenters (USGS, 2019).
The initial product of the StEER response to the 2019 Lagunas Perú Earthquake is this Virtual Assessment Structural Team (VAST) report, which is intended to:
- Provide an overview of the tectonic characteristics of the event;
- Summarize ground motions recorded in two countries;
- Summarize preliminary reports of damage to wide-ranging of structures and infrastructure
The lead author is Eduardo Miranda, Stanford University. Read more about the co-authors and access the report.
