1982 North Yemen earthquake
| UTC time | 1982-12-13 09:12:51 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 586778 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | December 13, 1982 |
| Local time | 12:12:51 SAST |
| Magnitude | 6.2 Mw |
| Depth | 10 km (6.2 mi) |
| Epicenter | 14°38′N 44°18′E / 14.64°N 44.3°E |
| Type | Dip-slip (normal) |
| Areas affected | Yemen |
| Max. intensity | MMI VIII (Severe) |
| Casualties | 2,800 dead 1,500 injured |
The 1982 North Yemen earthquake hit near the city of Dhamar, North Yemen (now part of Yemen) on December 13. Measuring 6.2 on the moment magnitude scale, with a maximum perceived intensity of VIII (Severe) on the Mercalli intensity scale, as many as 2,800 people were killed and another 1,500 injured. The shock occurred within several hundred kilometers of a plate boundary in a geologically complex region that includes active volcanoes and seafloor spreading ridges. Yemen has a history of destructive earthquakes, though this was the first instrumentally recorded event to be detected on global seismograph networks.