Liquefaction and ground failures during the 2001 Bhuj earthquake, India

A massive earthquake of magnitude MW = 7.7 struck the Kutch region, Gujarat State, India. The earthquake, known as the Bhuj Earthquake, caused wide spread destruction and casualties. Earthquake-induced ground failures, including liquefaction and lateral spreading were observed in many areas causing damage to dams, embankments, pipelines and ports, etc. This paper is an attempt to document and identify the available geological, geotechnical and earthquake field data related to this earthquake and the liquefaction induced damage for possible use as reference in the future earthquake resistant performance-based design. Namely, this report summarizes liquefaction and related ground failures, as well as the resulting damage to major port facilities during the 2001 Bhuj earthquake. The relationship between the subsurface ground conditions and the ground failures is analyzed. Subsurface marshy land containing tertiary and quaternary sediments may be responsible for the observed widespread liquefaction.