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The Rukwa earthquake of 13 December 1910 in East Africa
Author(s) -
Ambraseys N.N.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
terra nova
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.353
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-3121
pISSN - 0954-4879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3121.1991.tb00873.x
Subject(s) - aftershock , east african rift , magnitude (astronomy) , rift , seismology , geology , tectonics , physics , astronomy
We reappraised the Rukwa earthquake of 1910 in the East African Rift System. With a magnitude of 7.4, no earthquake in East Africa is known to be larger and it is rivalled only by the recent earthquake in southern Sudan on 20 May 1990. More than 80 per cent of the moment release in the Rift during the last 110 years is due to the Rukwa earthquake and its aftershocks that occurred between the Tanganyka and Nyasa systems. In spite of its large magnitude, the Rukwa earthquake caused very little damage to local types of dwellings and no loss of life. With increasing development of urban areas with modern types of houses, there is now increasing risk in East Africa from major earthquakes.