3.1.1.2 Tectonic Hazards: Effects and Responses to Tectonic Hazards (Earthquakes) - Nepal and Chile Case Study Flashcards
Secondary effects of earthquakes:
- associated with events triggered by ground shaking e.g. landslides, avalanches, fires and deadly tsunami
- can cause massive destruction and loss of life
Primary effects of earthquakes:
- caused by ground shaking
- deaths and injuries associated with collapse of buildings and infrastructure e.g. elevated roads
Immediate/short-term responses to earthquakes:
- initially focuses on search and rescue
- providing emergency resources e.g. water, food, medicine, shelter and safety
Long-term responses of earthquakes:
- re-building and reconstruction
- returning society to ‘normal’ and reducing future risk
When was Nepal struck by an earthquake?
25th April 2015
What did the 2015 Nepal earthquake measure on the Richter scale?
7.9
Where was the epicentre of the 2015 Nepal earthquake?
80km to the north-west of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu in the foothills of the Himalayas
What was the plate boundary for the 2015 Nepal earthquake?
- destructive plate margin where the Indo-Australian Plate is colliding with the Eurasian Plate at a rate of 45mm per year
- collision and pressure at this margin are responsible for the formation of the Himalayas
What was the depth of the 2015 Nepal earthquake and what does this mean?
- very shallow
- 15km below the surface
- resulted in very severe ground shaking and widespread landslides and avalanches
- earthquake caused damage hundreds of kilometres away in India, Tibet and Pakistan
HDI of Nepal:
0.602
How many people were injured, died and affected by the earthquake in Nepal in 2015 (primary effects)?
- 9,000 people died
- 20,000 injured
- 8 million + people affected
How many people were left homeless by the 2015 Nepal earthquake (primary effects)?
3 million people left homeless
What was immediately affected by the 2015 Nepal earthquake (primary effects)?
- electricity
- water supplies
- sanitation
- communication
How many people needed food and shelter in the weeks following the 2015 Nepal earthquake (primary effects)?
1.4 million people needed food and shelter in the weeks following the earthquake
How was the airport affected by the 2015 Nepal earthquake (primary effects)?
international airport became congested as aid arrived
What % of shops were destroyed by the 2015 Nepal earthquake and how did this affect people (primary effects)?
- 50% of shops destroyed
- this affected food supplies and people’s livelihoods
What was the cost of damage of the 2015 Nepal earthquake (primary effects)?
over US$5bn
What did ground shaking from the 2015 Nepal earthquake trigger (secondary effects)?
triggered landslides and avalanches, blocking roads and hampering relief efforts
How many people died due to avalanche on Mount Everest that was caused by the 2015 Nepal earthquake (secondary effects)?
- killed 19 people
- greatest loss of life on the mountain in a single incident
What did the avalanche in Langtang caused by the 2015 Nepal earthquake cause (secondary effects)?
left 250 people missing
What landslide did the 2015 Nepal earthquake cause (secondary effects)?
- landslide blocked the Kali Dandaki River, 140km north-west of the capital Kathmandu
- many people evacuated in case of flooding
What did International rescue teams do as an immediate response to the 2015 Nepal earthquake?
- International search and rescue teams inc. the British organisation Search and Rescue Assistance in Disasters (SARAID), rescued 16 survivors
- water and medical support arrived from the UK, China and India
How many people urgently needed water, food and shelter and who helped provide this as an immediate response to the 2015 Nepal earthquake?
- approx. 1.4 million people urgently needed water, food and shelter
- World Vision International provided emergency food kits for 8000 people and shelter materials for 20,000 people
How did helicopters help as an immediate response to the 2015 Nepal earthquake?
helicopters rescued many people caught in avalanches on Mount Everest and delivered supplies to villages cut off by landslides