The city of Armenia, Colombia has been repeatedly subjected to moderate magnitude earthquakes. Damage in that city for the 1999 (Mw6.2) event was disproportionate (maximum observed EMS-92 intensity of IX), even considering the small epicentral distance (18 km). Two main factors have been invoked: Site effects and vulnerability of the building stock. We re-analyze available data on site effects, including: Records of aftershocks of the 1999 event, ambient noise records obtained using standalone stations, array records of ambient noise, and available shear wave profiles from seismic cone measurements. We estimate local amplification from spectral ratios of earthquake records relative to a reference site, the horizontal relative to the vertical component (HVSR, Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratios) of earthquakes and ambient noise records, and ratios of response spectra relative to a reference site or to simulated ground motion. These estimates are compared to amplification functions computed for 1D soil models, inverted from microtremor array observations. Our estimates of site effects for Armenia are therefore robust and bring together results previously available only in internal reports. We show that spectral ratios relative to a reference site may fail to estimate the amplification level. Site effects in Armenia are relatively homogeneous. Although site amplification is very significant and contributed to the observed damage, it does not account for the irregular damage distribution observed in 1999.

Abstract. Damage in Armenia, Colombia, for the 25 January 1999 (Mw=6.2, peak ground acceleration (PGA) 580 Gal) event was disproportionate. We analyze the damage report as a function of number of stories and construction age of buildings. We recovered two vulnerability evaluations made in Armenia in 1993 and in 2004. We compare the results of the 1993 evaluation with damage observed in 1999 and show that the vulnerability evaluation made in 1993 could have predicted the relative frequency of damage observed in 1999. Our results show that vulnerability of the building stock was the major factor behind damage observed in 1999. Moreover, it showed no significant reduction between 1999 and 2004.

Se presentan resultados del análisis de componentes verticales de registros de sismos y ruido sísmico en la Sabana de Bogotá con el objetivo de explorar la estructura del subsuelo. En el caso de los registros de sismos, se analizaron directamente las ondas de Rayleigh presentes en los registros para estimar velocidades de grupo. Para los registros de ruido sísmico utilizamos el método de interferometría sísmica que permite estimar funciones de Green a partir de la correlación cruzada. El promedio de esas correlaciones cruzadas permitió recuperar pulsos de ondas Rayleigh entre pares de estaciones. En todos los casos estimamos curvas de dispersión de velocidad de grupo. Los resultados muestran el impacto de la geología en los valores de velocidad de grupo en la región de estudio. Observamos diferencias entre trayectorias contenidas en los sedimentos cuaternarios que cubren la Sabana de Bogotá y aquellas que incluyen parte de su trayecto por rocas del Cretácico. El contraste de impedancia estimado entre los sedimentos superficiales y los estratos subyacentes sugiere que la amplificación del movimiento sísmico excede un factor de 10. La deficiente cantidad y calidad de los datos limitaron los alcances del este trabajo. Los rangos de frecuencia de los resultados no coincidieron para las distintas fuentes de datos, lo que obstaculizó las comparaciones entre trayectorias. A pesar de esas limitaciones, estos resultados contribuyen a mostrar la relevancia de los efectos de sitio en la Sabana de Bogotá y la necesidad de tomarlos en cuenta para estimar el movimiento durante sismos futuros en esta zona.

Abstract. Damage in Armenia, Colombia, for the 1999 (Mw6.2) event was disproportionate. We analyse the damage report as a function of number of storeys and construction age. We recovered two vulnerability evaluations made in Armenia in 1993 and in 2004. We compare the results of the 1993 evaluation with damages observed in 1999 and show that the vulnerability evaluation made in 1993 could have predicted the relative frequency of damage observed in 1999. Our results show that vulnerability of the building stock was the major factor behind damage observed in 1999. Moreover, it showed no significant reduction between 1999 and 2004.