The recent chain of earthquakes in Venezuela has brought seismic activity in South America into the spotlight, highlighting the vulnerability of certain regions to seismic movements. Although Argentina is at some distance from the meeting point between the Caribbean and South American plates, the country is known for its high seismic activity, especially along the Andes Mountain Range.
Studies by the National Institute of Seismic Prevention reveal that the seismic risk increases significantly from the center to the west of the Argentine territory.
Argentine provinces with the highest earthquake risk
The seismic doublet in Venezuela occurred due to the rupture of nearby segments of an active fault. In contrast, in Argentina, earthquakes are mainly the result of the subduction of the Nazca plate under the South American plate, a geological process that has shaped the Andes Mountain Range over millions of years.
Victor García, president of INPRES, explains that “in Argentina, the west of the country concentrates practically all the seismic threat. Although earthquakes cannot be predicted, it is possible to identify areas with a higher probability of significant events.”
The six Argentine provinces with the highest seismic risk are:
- San Juan
- Mendoza
- La Rioja
- Catamarca
- Salta
- Jujuy
In a second level of risk are: San Luis, Tucumán, Córdoba, and Neuquén, where moderate earthquakes can also occur.
The recent seismic events in Venezuela remind us that South America is a tectonically active region. Although this does not mean an immediate risk for Argentina, it highlights the need to keep seismic monitoring systems updated.
Dr. Patricia Alvarado, an expert in Geophysics, points out that the seismicity in Argentina is closely related to the tectonic interaction between the Nazca and South American plates, a process that deforms the Earth’s crust and causes earthquakes in the west of the country.
Argentina’s seismic history is marked by significant events, such as the earthquake in Mendoza in 1861, which devastated the city, and the one in San Juan in 1944, which prompted a review of anti-seismic construction standards.
Thanks to advances in seismic engineering, structural risk has decreased in the most vulnerable provinces, although specialists insist that prevention remains essential to mitigate damage.
