Macroseismic Survey of the 2002 Molise,Italy,Earthquake and Historical Seismicity of San Giuliano di Puglia

Abstract

The eastern Molise earthquake had an epicentral intensity of I_o=7–8 MCS (Mercalli-Cancani-Sieberg scale) and a maximum intensity of I_max=8–9 in the village of San Giuliano di Puglia. The historical portion of this village, built on a marly limestone hill, had intensities of 6–7 MCS, whereas the most recently developed area, on a crest of marly clays, had a local intensity of I=9–10 MCS, and was almost totally destroyed. Neighboring villages were generally struck with an intensity of 6–7 MCS. In several places, the damage was due to gravity-driven phenomena affecting both the rocky and clayey substratum of the villages. The epicentral area is characterized by the lack of historical earthquakes comparable to the 2002 sequence, having suffered only the effects of distant, strong (M>6.5) events, coming either from the Apennine seismogenic belt or from the Gargano area.