Performance of the Yangbi MS 6.4 earthquake disaster in different geomorphic units in Yunnan

Abstract

An M_S 6.4 earthquake occurred in Yangbi, Yunnan province, on May 21, 2021. According to related investigations, the macro-epicenter of the earthquake is 6 km northwest of Yangbi County, and the seismogenic structure is the NW-trending Weixi-Qiaohou fault. The earthquake area is located in the hinterland of the Hengduan Mountains in the northwest of Yunnan province, a region dominated by high and medium-high mountains, with deep canyons and tectonic basins in between. Various geomorphic features are derived from drastic topographic changes and huge geological differences in the earthquake area. There are a variety of buildings in the earthquake-affected zone, including civil and brick-wood structures ones with weak seismic performance, as well as brick-concrete and frame ones with better seismic performance. This paper summarizes and analyzes different characteristics of the earthquake in different geomorphic units through field investigations of different buildings and geological disasters in the affected area. The results show that under the same earthquake intensity, the damage to most buildings (located in slope areas or rooted in weak strata) is amplified by the earthquake. The earthquake has exerted an obvious propagation effect along the direction of the seismogenic structure. Moreover, local ground fissures will aggravate the damage to the buildings even without surface dislocation. Thus, we suggest that attention should be paid to the ground fissures caused by the slope effect. The fissure areas may also be the disaster spot of collapses and landslides in case of a high-magnitude earthquake.