Case Study - L'Aquila Earthquake Flashcards
When was the L’Aquila earthquake?
6th April 2009
3:32 am
What was the magnitude?
6.3 on the Richter Scale
Where was the epicentre?
7km northwest of L’Aquila
Give 3 examples of primary effects of the earthquake.
- buildings collapsed
- many churches and historical buildings were destroyed, e.g. the Basilica at St Bernadino
- people killed and injured
- several buildings in the L’Aquila University destroyed
How many buildings collapsed?
10 - 15,000
How many people were killed?
308
How many people were injured?
1,500
Give an example of a historic building that was destroyed.
Basilica at St Bernadino
Give 3 examples of secondary effects of the earthquake.
- people made homeless
- aftershocks triggered landslides and rockfalls, damaging housing and transport
- a landslide and a mudflow caused by a burst mains water pipeline
- number of students able to atttend L’Aquila University declined due to building loss
- lack of housing meant house and rent prices went up
- the CBD was cordoned off, reducing business and income
How many people were made homeless?
67,500
How much did the earthquake cost to the economy?
€4 billion
Give 3 examples of immediate responses to the earthquake.
- hotels provided shelter for people
- tents were given out
- 7 dogs, 36 ambulances and a temporary hospital aided search and rescue
- L’Aquila was declared a state of emergency, speeding up international aid
- British Red Cross raised money and gave out water, hot meals and blankets
- The Italian Red Cross started looking for survivors
- The DEC did not provide help
How many people did hotels provide shelter for?
10,000
How many tents were given out?
40,000
How much money did the British Red Cross raise?
£171,000
How long did it take the Italian Red Cross to begin to search for survivors?
within an hour
What does the DEC stand for?
the Disasters Emergency Committee
Why did the DEC not provide help to Italy?
Italy is a HIC
Give 3 examples of long-term responses to the earthquake.
- students not charged taxes in 2010
- mortgages, gas and electric, and TV bills were suspended
- homes took years to rebuild
- historical centres took 15 years to rebuild
- Italian Post Office offered free mobile calls, raised donations and gave free business delivery
- students given free public transport
- students exempt from university fees for 3 years
- torchlit procession and a catholic mass on the anniversary of the earthquake
- EU granted money from the disaster fund
What did the Italian Post Office do to help?
- offered free mobile calls
- raised donations
- gave free business delivery
What bills were suspended?
- mortgages
- Sky TV
- gas and electric
How long were students exempt from university fees for?
3 years
How much money did the EU grant Italy from its Disaster Fund?
$552 million
What happened on the anniversary of the earthquake?
There was a torchlit procession and a catholic mass.
