1873 Alpago earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 1873 Alpago earthquake was an earthquake that occurred near the Italian
city of Belluno
on June 29, 1873. This took place in the geologically active Alpago Valley of the Veneto
region; the zone is rated as two on a four-degree risk scale (one being the highest). The 6.3 magnitude quake was rated as 10th degree on the Mercalli Intensity Scale
. Damage was reported mostly in the provinces of Belluno
, Treviso
and Pordenone
.
and Saint Paul.
The shock was strongly felt in the whole Veneto region, damaging mostly the towns located in the Alpago basin
, in Val Lapisina and above the Cansiglio plateau
. It was felt as far away as Genova
, Marche
and Umbria
, Slovenia
, Austria
, Switzerland
and Bavaria
. The epicenter
was at the northern edge of Santa Croce Lake, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) east of Belluno.
. The towns of Rugolo, Cappella
and Sarmede
reported 16 casualties, but in San Pietro di Feletto
, 38 people perished when the old church's roof collapsed while the morning mass
in honor of Saint Peter, the city's saint, was being celebrated.
In the most stricken zones, a third of the buildings were damaged. In Belluno itself, the duomo
's apse
collapsed. Eight buildings were completely destroyed, another 110 later had to be demolished, 139 needed restoration, and 251 were in need of some work. One church was destroyed, and other seven were damaged. In the city's outskirts, two blocks had to be demolished, 21 houses needed restoration and 219 more received slight damage. No building in the city was left undamaged.
In the surrounding towns, 15 houses collapsed, 66 had to be demolished later, 243 needed restoration and 669 had to be repaired. About 260 houses went unscathed. Four churches were destroyed, and 21 more were severely damaged. The city of Venice
sustained minor damaged, assessed as 6th degree on the Mercalli scale.
and San Martino Castle
were damaged or destroyed. The nearby town of Serravalle
experienced little damage (only the partial collapse of the Turris Nigra, a tower), later explained by the different composition of the underlying soil by seismologists Torquato Taramelli
and Giulio Andrea Pirona; the scientists discovered that Serravalle sat above a compact slab of limestone, while Ceneda, just a few kilometers away, rested on soil composed of alluvial conglomerates. This discovery was instrumental in developing the seismic macro-zoning process, a technique used to better assess the risk of damage from earthquakes.
, raising 2232,45 lire
, while a provincial committee succeeded in raising 26.771,90 lire for the reconstruction. Vittorio Emanuele II, King of Italy, personally committed 1000 lire to the effort.
Authorities reacted quickly to the disaster, asking for help from the Army and the Carabinieri
in order to remove the rubble, set up tents and communications, and maintain order among the refugees.
A wood shortage led to delays in the repairs of damaged buildings. In the following weeks, a military brigade was given the task of felling enough trees to meet the needs of reconstruction.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
city of Belluno
Belluno
Belluno , is a town and province in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Located about 100 kilometres north of Venice, Belluno is the capital of the province of Belluno and the most important city in the Eastern Dolomiti's region. With its roughly 37,000 inhabitants, it the largest populated area...
on June 29, 1873. This took place in the geologically active Alpago Valley of the Veneto
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
region; the zone is rated as two on a four-degree risk scale (one being the highest). The 6.3 magnitude quake was rated as 10th degree on the Mercalli Intensity Scale
Mercalli intensity scale
The Mercalli intensity scale is a seismic scale used for measuring the intensity of an earthquake. It measures the effects of an earthquake, and is distinct from the moment magnitude M_w usually reported for an earthquake , which is a measure of the energy released...
. Damage was reported mostly in the provinces of Belluno
Belluno
Belluno , is a town and province in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Located about 100 kilometres north of Venice, Belluno is the capital of the province of Belluno and the most important city in the Eastern Dolomiti's region. With its roughly 37,000 inhabitants, it the largest populated area...
, Treviso
Treviso
Treviso is a city and comune in Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Treviso and the municipality has 82,854 inhabitants : some 3,000 live within the Venetian walls or in the historical and monumental center, some 80,000 live in the urban center proper, while the city...
and Pordenone
Pordenone
Pordenone is a comune of Pordenone province of northeast Italy in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region.The name comes from the Latin "Portus Naonis" meaning the port on the river Noncello - History :...
.
Earthquake
The earthquake struck without notice at 4:29 a.m. on June 29, 1873, a day which was to be a local holiday celebrating Saint PeterSaint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
and Saint Paul.
The shock was strongly felt in the whole Veneto region, damaging mostly the towns located in the Alpago basin
Basin
Basin may refer to:* Basin , a poem about Charlemagne's childhood* basin , the area of a drydock which can be flooded and drained* basin of attraction , an area of a nonlinear system with an attractor...
, in Val Lapisina and above the Cansiglio plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
. It was felt as far away as Genova
Génova
Génova may refer to:* Spanish spelling of the city of Genoa, Italy* Génova, Quindío, a municipality in the department of Quindío, Colombia* Génova, Quetzaltenango, a municipality in the department of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala...
, Marche
Marche
The population density in the region is below the national average. In 2008, it was 161.5 inhabitants per km2, compared to the national figure of 198.8. It is highest in the province of Ancona , and lowest in the province of Macerata...
and Umbria
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
. The epicenter
Epicenter
The epicenter or epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface that is directly above the hypocenter or focus, the point where an earthquake or underground explosion originates...
was at the northern edge of Santa Croce Lake, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) east of Belluno.
Casualties and damage
Thirty people died in the Alpago area, and ten more in the rest of the Province of BellunoProvince of Belluno
TheThe Province of Belluno is a province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Belluno.It has an area of 3,678 km², and a total population of 214,026 .-Geography:...
. The towns of Rugolo, Cappella
Cappella
Cappella was an Italian Eurodance act formed in 1987 by producer Gianfranco Bortolotti. The act went through a number of line-up changes over the years but was most successful in the early 1990s when it was fronted by British performers Kelly Overett and Rodney Bishop...
and Sarmede
Sarmede
Sarmede is a comune in the Province of Treviso in the Italian region Veneto, located about 60 km north of Venice and about 35 km northeast of Treviso. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 3,087 and an area of 17.9 km².Sarmede borders the following municipalities: Caneva,...
reported 16 casualties, but in San Pietro di Feletto
San Pietro di Feletto
San Pietro di Feletto is a comune in the Province of Treviso in the Italian region Veneto, located about 60 km north of Venice and about 30 km north of Treviso.-Main sights:...
, 38 people perished when the old church's roof collapsed while the morning mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
in honor of Saint Peter, the city's saint, was being celebrated.
In the most stricken zones, a third of the buildings were damaged. In Belluno itself, the duomo
Duomo
Duomo is a term for a cathedral church. The formal word for a church that is presently a cathedral is cattedrale; a Duomo may be either a present or a former cathedral . Some, like the Duomo of Monza, have never been cathedrals, although old and important...
's apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
collapsed. Eight buildings were completely destroyed, another 110 later had to be demolished, 139 needed restoration, and 251 were in need of some work. One church was destroyed, and other seven were damaged. In the city's outskirts, two blocks had to be demolished, 21 houses needed restoration and 219 more received slight damage. No building in the city was left undamaged.
In the surrounding towns, 15 houses collapsed, 66 had to be demolished later, 243 needed restoration and 669 had to be repaired. About 260 houses went unscathed. Four churches were destroyed, and 21 more were severely damaged. The city of Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
sustained minor damaged, assessed as 6th degree on the Mercalli scale.
Discovery of the effect of soil on damage severity
In Ceneda, the seminary, the cathedral steepleSteeple
Steeple may refer to:Placenames* Steeple, County Antrim, a townland in County Antrim, Northern Ireland* Steeple, Dorset, a hamlet in south Dorset, England* Steeple, Essex, a very small village in south Essex, England...
and San Martino Castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
were damaged or destroyed. The nearby town of Serravalle
Serravalle
Serravalle is a common placename in Italian speaking regions: the name means "place where the valley narrows".-Italy:Municipalities :* Serravalle a Po, in Mantova Province* Serravalle di Chienti, in Macerata Province...
experienced little damage (only the partial collapse of the Turris Nigra, a tower), later explained by the different composition of the underlying soil by seismologists Torquato Taramelli
Torquato Taramelli
Torquato Taramelli was an Italian geologist.-Biography:Taramelli was born in Pavia, Lombardy.After his graduation in Natural Sciences, in Milan, he became assistant of Antonio Stoppani at the Politecnico di Milano. Here he studied the territory of the Italian region Friuli, where he founded the...
and Giulio Andrea Pirona; the scientists discovered that Serravalle sat above a compact slab of limestone, while Ceneda, just a few kilometers away, rested on soil composed of alluvial conglomerates. This discovery was instrumental in developing the seismic macro-zoning process, a technique used to better assess the risk of damage from earthquakes.
Relief efforts
A public funding subscription was held in Vittorio VenetoVittorio Veneto
Vittorio Veneto is a city and comune situated in the Province of Treviso, in the region of Veneto, Italy, in the northeast of the Italian peninsula, between the Piave and the Livenza rivers.-Geography:...
, raising 2232,45 lire
Italian lira
The lira was the currency of Italy between 1861 and 2002. Between 1999 and 2002, the Italian lira was officially a “national subunit” of the euro...
, while a provincial committee succeeded in raising 26.771,90 lire for the reconstruction. Vittorio Emanuele II, King of Italy, personally committed 1000 lire to the effort.
Authorities reacted quickly to the disaster, asking for help from the Army and the Carabinieri
Carabinieri
The Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie of Italy, policing both military and civilian populations, and is a branch of the armed forces.-Early history:...
in order to remove the rubble, set up tents and communications, and maintain order among the refugees.
A wood shortage led to delays in the repairs of damaged buildings. In the following weeks, a military brigade was given the task of felling enough trees to meet the needs of reconstruction.