2024 Mahana Earthquake
 Epicentre of earthquake | |
 | |
| UTC time | 2024-03-17 05:45:25 |
|---|---|
| Local date | 17 March 2024 |
| Local time | 05:45:25 MST |
| Duration | 28 seconds |
| Magnitude | 7.8 Mw 8.1 Ms |
| Depth | 8.0 km (5.0 mi) |
| Epicenter | Southern Paranani Province, just north of Ghobari. |
| Fault | Main Samripen Thrust |
| Type | Thrust |
| Areas affected | |
| Max. intensity | X (Extreme) |
| Casualties | unknown |
On 17 March 2024, at 05:45:25 MST (21:00 CUT) a Mw 7.8 earthquake struck the southern Paranani Province of Mahana, with the epicentre just north of the populous city of Ghobari. The earthquake has been given a high Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme) around the epicentre and within Ghobari. Ongoing immediate response reports estimate the death toll to be within the tens of thousands, with injury numbers estimated to be even higher as thousands remain missing.
The Mw 7.8 earthquake is the largest recorded earthquake in Mahanan history, estimated to be even higher in magnitude than the 1916 Mahana Earthquake. It is also one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded in the Orient, only behind three other earthquakes, including the 2002 Tamurin Earthquake. It is believed to have been felt as far west as Mantella and as far north as the Chennipadu Region of Kotowari.
The estimated damages could be in excess of $5 billion according to the EII based upon satellite imagery of damages to major urban areas in and around Ghobari. The real number is yet to be confirmed.
Immediate responses from local authorities to the earthquake began at around 6:00 local time, with the Assembled Nations already issuing a statement in response to the disaster and pledging aid. Humanitarian NGO People's Plea had arrived in Mahana with emergency supplies by 14:00 local time.
Earthquake
The earthquake occurred at 17 March 2024 at exactly 05:45:25 MST, as picked up by the Ghoksila Seismic Monitoring Station in Kotowari, at a depth of approximately 8.0 kilometres (considered relatively shallow for an earthquake of this magnitude, thus being more damaging above ground). It's epicentre was roughly 23km away from the Ghobari metripolitan area, a location where just over half a million residents live. The proximity of the epicentre to a major urban area combined with the shallow depth and the high magnitude set the 2024 Mahana Earthquake up for being one of the most deadly in recent history. Initially the earthquake was clocked in at a magnitude 7.4 however was quickly corrected by the GSMS to being a 7.8 Mw earthquake. Aftershocks are likely to follow the quake.
According to the OSMS (Oriental Seismotology and Meteorology Society) the earthquake was caused by a sudden thrust, meaning release of built up stress, within the fault line on the Main Samripen Thrust plate which is slowly diving beneath the West Europan Plate. The capital city of Jutpandi is believed to have shifted around 25cm south-west in a matter of minutes due to it's location on a block of crust affected by the subduction.
Despite the unpredictability of the timing of the earthquake, the possibility of a large-scale earthquake in Mahana was known for some time before. Seismotologists have been monitoring the plate under Mahana since 2020 after noticing a significant build up in accumulated energy. Professor Asvalayana Chitanis of the Kotowaran Seismological Society and the University of KWC was quoted saying "We believe enough energy has built up in the thrust now to cause an earthquake of a magnitude up to 8.0 or even higher. I cannot say when exactly, but I urge the government of Mahana to begin earthquake protection preparation". The government did follow his advice, spending over $35 million on earthquake defences in major urban areas in 2021 and 2022.
Geology
Response and Repair
Response from local authorities began after around 20 minutes, seen as quite a quick response due to the level of damage. In Ghobari local residents combined with the police force and fire department to initially try and save anyone possible from the rubble as well as provide water and food for the dehydrated and malnourished. The 2021 Mahanan manifesto put in place by Prime-Minister Ranju Bastola states that, in the case of an earthquake, clean water should be the priority to minimise the risk of a major cholera outbreak following. The Mahanan infantry force arrived to the city at around 10:30 local time.
The Assembled Nations speaker Angus MacAlpine commented on the disaster in the hours following, pledging aid to Mahana from the Assembled Nations.
