Seismicity of Borshi-Kardhiq Fault Zone During This Century

Abstract

Summary During two decades of this century, the Albanian and its surrounding is characterized by high seismic hazard. One active fault zone, determined on the foci and energy of earthquakes is Borshi-Kardhiqi zone. On January 4, 2018 a moderate ML4.8 earthquake sequence burst in the Borshi-Kardhiqi tectonic fault zone. The main shock was located 3 km southwest of Borshi town and was felt over a larger area of southern and central Albania. The Borshi-Kardhiqi tectonic segment is exposed on the ground at a length of about 25 km, according to the SE-NW direction. The database of this study, composed of 264 seismic events with ML>1.0 is characterized by tectonic earthquakes activity in this fault zone. The focal mechanisms solution of the moderate earthquake indicates stress regime in this zone. The analysis of main aspects of seismicity during this century provides us correct interpretations of seismotectonics, geodynamic phenomena of the Earth’s crust. The Borshi-Kardhiq transversal fault zone presents a threat to the nearby urban and tourism coast area.