An investigation on Balakot, Muzaffarabad (Pakistan) earthquake, 8 Oct. 2005, Mw 7.6; geological aspects and intensity distribution

In this paper, the investigations on seismotectonic and intensity evaluations of epicentral and meizoseismal regions in Muzaffarabad earthquake—8 Oct. 2005, Mw 7.6—are summarized using The European Macroseismic Scale (EMS-98). The observations are compiled based on the field investigations and isoseismal map. The results show that the isoseismals are elongated parallel to the reactivated Muzaffarabad fault, and the attenuation is high in the direction normal to the fault compared with the direction parallel to it. The geotechnical investigations in Muzaffarabad Valley have helped the authors to assign intensity values in the localities where some huge landslides are observed. Finally, the empirical laws, previously developed for intensity attenuation in Iran in EMS-98 scale, are compared with the intensity observations here. The results are roughly consistent with the general form of attenuation laws. However, it is found that the intensity attenuations are different in the directions normal and parallel to the fault.