Abstract
A Mw 6.2 magnitude earthquake occurred at 1:19 pm on January 25th,
1999 in the Colombian western central area. It was produced by a
shallow fault in a region with a strong relief located in the western
slope of the Central Cordillera and on the Quindio alluvial fan, where
the cities of Armenia and Pereira are located. This is a densely
populated region with an important agriculture activity. THe effects
on human lives, infrastructure, environment and economy make this
earthquake one of the most severe in Colombia; 32 municipalities where
affected, 13 with more than 10 000 inhabitants. The death toll was
1185; 32 405 houses were destroyed and 243 of a total of 521 where
damgaged. The economic losses sums up at least 2,5 % of NGP (1998).
Seismic waves triggered landslides, crack formation, mudflows and
variations in water sources in an area of about 1500 km2. This
contribution was prepared from information available in publications
and report of several national and international institutions and from
information directly collected in the field by OSSO technical and
scientific staff.
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