1930 Senigallia earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 1930 Senigallia earthquake
struck the city of Senigallia
in central Italy
on October 30. It occurred just a few months after the destructive 1930 Irpinia earthquake
, which had caused over 1400 casualties in the southern part of the country.
ing at the leading edge of the North Apennines fold and thrust belt. Movement on a blind thrust, the Senigallia Fault, has caused folding in the area around the port forming an anticline
that extends about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) parallel to the coast. The rupture area for the 1930 earthquake is thought to have measured about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) along strike and 6.9 kilometres (4.3 mi) down dip.
of 5.9 on the Richter magnitude scale
.
The earthquake affected the whole central and northwestern part of the Italian peninsula, with its epicenter near the city of Senigallia. Other major cities, such as Ancona
and Fano
, were damaged too, as were other settlements such as Montemarciano
, Mondolfo
, San Costanzo
and 40 other minor towns. It was assessed as level VIII to IX on the Mercalli Intensity Scale
.
The earthquake was felt from Istria
to Puglia, throughout the whole Adriatic shoreline, and up to Naples
on the opposite side of Italy. The following aftershocks lasted for over a month. A small tsunami
struck Ancona
's harbor, but damage was limited to a moored steamship.
Many families became refugees, and had to live in tents and makeshift shelters. The region's tourist industry experienced much trouble in the following years, despite government assistance.
Whole districts of Ancona, such as Capodimonte and San Lazzaro, were abandoned; the residents left for the countryside. People from Senigallia built encampments in the town's outskirts and occupied summer camps and rail coaches.
, 25 houses collapsed, and twice as much were damaged beyond repair. 450 buildings needed restoration work, but luckily no one perished, and only one inhabitant was wounded.
In Mondolfo
, the damage was worse. The 15 second shock destroyed 60 houses, and 39 were severely damaged. Another 540 displayed cracks in the walls, while 20 people were injured.
In Fano
, the shock was much shorter (due to the different composition of the ground), about five seconds, but 86 houses suffered critical, 1197 severe and 2880 light damage, while six people required medical assistance.
Marotta
, Mombaroccio
, Cartoceto
, Saltara
, Candelara, Sant'Ippolito
, Sorbolongo, Urbino
, Fossombrone
and Sant'Andrea di Suasa all reported some damage. More severely affected were Monteporzio, Fratte Rosa
, Serrungarina
and Urbania
.
The old town of Senigallia, rich in monuments and businesses, was practically destroyed: the city lost its importance as a harbor and trade hub of the Adriatic Sea
, along with its cultural heritage. The stone building decorations were mostly replaced by concrete or plaster fillings, compromising the look of the city center.
The Misa River
, used as an harbor channel, had to have new concrete embankments and lost its scenic attractiveness. Rebuilding worsened the damage; most repairable buildings were demolished to make way for new construction. The outcome was a decline in city population, importance and tourist appeal. The population shrank 70% over the next five decades.
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
struck the city of Senigallia
Senigallia
Senigallia is a comune and port town on Italy's Adriatic coast, 25 km by rail north of Ancona, in the Marche region, province of Ancona....
in central Italy
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...
on October 30. It occurred just a few months after the destructive 1930 Irpinia earthquake
1930 Irpinia earthquake
The 1930 Irpinia earthquake occurred at 00:08 UTC on 23 July 1930. It had a magnitude of 6.6 and caused 1,404 deaths. The epicenter was close to the borders between the regions of Basilicata, Puglia and Campania.-Tectonic setting:...
, which had caused over 1400 casualties in the southern part of the country.
Geology
The coastline in the area around Senigallia is controlled by active thrust faultThrust fault
A thrust fault is a type of fault, or break in the Earth's crust across which there has been relative movement, in which rocks of lower stratigraphic position are pushed up and over higher strata. They are often recognized because they place older rocks above younger...
ing at the leading edge of the North Apennines fold and thrust belt. Movement on a blind thrust, the Senigallia Fault, has caused folding in the area around the port forming an anticline
Anticline
In structural geology, an anticline is a fold that is convex up and has its oldest beds at its core. The term is not to be confused with antiform, which is a purely descriptive term for any fold that is convex up. Therefore if age relationships In structural geology, an anticline is a fold that is...
that extends about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) parallel to the coast. The rupture area for the 1930 earthquake is thought to have measured about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) along strike and 6.9 kilometres (4.3 mi) down dip.
Earthquake
A foreshock preceded the main event by a few minutes. Its loud boom was heard by many, despite the shock causing little damage. After hearing the rumble, people fled the buildings and flooded into the streets. Shortly after the main shock came at 8:10 a.m., with a magnitudeMagnitude
Magnitude Is A Part Of An EarthquakesMagnitude may refer to:In mathematics:*Magnitude , the relative size of a mathematical object*Magnitude , a term for the size or length of a vector...
of 5.9 on the Richter magnitude scale
Richter magnitude scale
The expression Richter magnitude scale refers to a number of ways to assign a single number to quantify the energy contained in an earthquake....
.
The earthquake affected the whole central and northwestern part of the Italian peninsula, with its epicenter near the city of Senigallia. Other major cities, such as Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
and Fano
Fano
Fano is a town and comune of the province of Pesaro and Urbino in the Marche region of Italy. It is a beach resort 12 km southeast of Pesaro, located where the Via Flaminia reaches the Adriatic Sea...
, were damaged too, as were other settlements such as Montemarciano
Montemarciano
Montemarciano is a comune in the Province of Ancona in the Italian region Marche, located about 15 km west of Ancona.Montemarciano borders the following municipalities: Chiaravalle, Falconara Marittima, Monte San Vito, Senigallia....
, Mondolfo
Mondolfo
Mondolfo is a comune in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region Marche, located about 35 km northwest of Ancona and about 25 km southeast of Pesaro, on the Adriatic Sea...
, San Costanzo
San Costanzo
San Costanzo is a comune in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region Marche, located about 40 km northwest of Ancona and about 20 km southeast of Pesaro...
and 40 other minor towns. It was assessed as level VIII to IX 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...
.
The earthquake was felt from Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
to Puglia, throughout the whole Adriatic shoreline, and up to Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
on the opposite side of Italy. The following aftershocks lasted for over a month. A small tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
struck Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
's harbor, but damage was limited to a moored steamship.
Casualties
The earthquake took only 18 lives (14 in Senigallia, 4 in Ancona), but many more were injured. Thanks to the foreshock alerting the people, casualties were quite low, but many were wounded by debris falling from the damaged buildings.Many families became refugees, and had to live in tents and makeshift shelters. The region's tourist industry experienced much trouble in the following years, despite government assistance.
Whole districts of Ancona, such as Capodimonte and San Lazzaro, were abandoned; the residents left for the countryside. People from Senigallia built encampments in the town's outskirts and occupied summer camps and rail coaches.
Damages
Many towns reported severe damage. In San CostanzoSan Costanzo
San Costanzo is a comune in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region Marche, located about 40 km northwest of Ancona and about 20 km southeast of Pesaro...
, 25 houses collapsed, and twice as much were damaged beyond repair. 450 buildings needed restoration work, but luckily no one perished, and only one inhabitant was wounded.
In Mondolfo
Mondolfo
Mondolfo is a comune in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region Marche, located about 35 km northwest of Ancona and about 25 km southeast of Pesaro, on the Adriatic Sea...
, the damage was worse. The 15 second shock destroyed 60 houses, and 39 were severely damaged. Another 540 displayed cracks in the walls, while 20 people were injured.
In Fano
Fano
Fano is a town and comune of the province of Pesaro and Urbino in the Marche region of Italy. It is a beach resort 12 km southeast of Pesaro, located where the Via Flaminia reaches the Adriatic Sea...
, the shock was much shorter (due to the different composition of the ground), about five seconds, but 86 houses suffered critical, 1197 severe and 2880 light damage, while six people required medical assistance.
Marotta
Marotta
Marotta Controls, Inc designs and manufactures fluid control systems, components and actuators designed specifically for the Aerospace, Military, Space and Industrial markets...
, Mombaroccio
Mombaroccio
Mombaroccio is a comune in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region Marche, located about 60 km northwest of Ancona and about 14 km southwest of Pesaro....
, Cartoceto
Cartoceto
Cartoceto is a comune in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region Marche, located about 50 km northwest of Ancona and about 15 km south of Pesaro....
, Saltara
Saltara
Saltara is a town in the province of Pesaro e Urbino, Marche, central Italy. Is is located on a 120 m hill overlooking the lower Metauro valley.Before World War II Saltara was a center of pallone col bracciale playing.-Main sights:...
, Candelara, Sant'Ippolito
Sant'Ippolito
Sant'Ippolito is a comune in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region Marche, located about 50 km west of Ancona and about 25 km south of Pesaro....
, Sorbolongo, Urbino
Urbino
Urbino is a walled city in the Marche region of Italy, south-west of Pesaro, a World Heritage Site notable for a remarkable historical legacy of independent Renaissance culture, especially under the patronage of Federico da Montefeltro, duke of Urbino from 1444 to 1482...
, Fossombrone
Fossombrone
Fossombrone is a town and comune in the province of Pesaro e Urbino .-History:The ancient Roman colony of Forum Sempronii took its name from Gaius Sempronius Gracchus....
and Sant'Andrea di Suasa all reported some damage. More severely affected were Monteporzio, Fratte Rosa
Fratte Rosa
Fratte Rosa is a comune in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region Marche, located about 50 km west of Ancona and about 30 km south of Pesaro.-External links:*...
, Serrungarina
Serrungarina
Serrungarina is a comune in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region Marche, located about 50 km northwest of Ancona and about 20 kilometres south of Pesaro....
and Urbania
Urbania
For the 2000 film, see Urbania Urbania is a comune in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region of Marche, located about 80 km west of Ancona and about 40 km southwest of Pesaro, next to the river Metauro....
.
The old town of Senigallia, rich in monuments and businesses, was practically destroyed: the city lost its importance as a harbor and trade hub of the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
, along with its cultural heritage. The stone building decorations were mostly replaced by concrete or plaster fillings, compromising the look of the city center.
The Misa River
Misa (river in Italy)
The Misa is an Italian river in the Marche, which runs over 48 kilometers within the region. The source of the river is south of Arcevia in the province of Ancona. The river flows northeast near Arcevia and Serra de' Conti. The river enters the Adriatic Sea near Senigallia....
, used as an harbor channel, had to have new concrete embankments and lost its scenic attractiveness. Rebuilding worsened the damage; most repairable buildings were demolished to make way for new construction. The outcome was a decline in city population, importance and tourist appeal. The population shrank 70% over the next five decades.