Liquefaction Phenomena Induced by the 26 November 2019, Mw = 6.4 Durrës (Albania) Earthquake and Liquefaction Susceptibility Assessment in the Affected Area

Spyridon Mavroulis,Panayotis Carydis,Efthymios Lekkas

doi:10.3390/geosciences11050215

Abstract

On 26 November 2019, an Mw = 6.4 earthquake struck the central-western part of Albania. Its impact comprises secondary earthquake environmental effects (EEE) and severe building damage within the Periadriatic and the Tirana Depressions. EEE comprised mainly liquefaction phenomena in coastal, riverine, and lagoonal sites of the earthquake-affected area. From the evaluation of all available earthquake-related data, it is concluded that liquefaction sites are not randomly distributed within the affected area but are structurally and lithologically controlled. The affected areas are distributed within NW–SE striking zones formed in graben-like syncline areas with NW–SE trending fold axes. These graben-like areas are bounded by NW–SE striking marginal thrust faults and are filled with geological formations of Neogene to Quaternary age. These NW–SE striking zones and structures coincide with the NW–SE striking seismogenic thrust fault of the November 2019 earthquake as it is derived from the provided fault plane solutions. An approach for liquefaction susceptibility assessment is applied based on geological and seismological data and on liquefaction inventory. From the comparison of the compiled liquefaction inventory and the susceptibility maps, it is concluded that the majority of the observed liquefaction has been generated in very high and high susceptible areas.

Highlights

On 26 November 2019, an Mw = 6.4 earthquake struck the central-western Albania (Figure 1) with impact on the local population, the natural environment, buildings and lifelines [1,2]
Taking into account the spatial distribution of the liquefaction phenomena induced by the 26 November 2019, Mw = 6.4 Durrës earthquake, it is concluded that all liquefaction phenomena were not randomly distributed in the affected areas, but they were lithologically and structurally controlled
It is composed of soft alluvial, lagoonal and marine coastal deposits of Holocene age overlaying the alpine basement, while swampy soils constitute the lowlands of the plain. This syncline forms a NW–SE trending zone (Figure 16) with orientation similar to the orientation of macrostructures and active tectonic structures of the western affected area (Figure 16). This NW–SE trending zone have the same trend with the NW–SE striking seismogenic thrust fault of the 26 November 2019 Mw = 6.4 earthquake as it is derived from the provided fault plane solutions

Summary

Introduction

Earthquake environmental effects comprising mainly liquefaction phenomena as well as severe structural and non-structural building damage have been observed in the municipalities of Durrës, Tirana, Krujë, Shijak, Kamëz, Kavajë, Kurbin, and Lezhë [1,3,4] (Figure 1).

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion