D - Nepal Earthquake (Case Study) Flashcards
Describe the Nepal earthquake.
It occurred on April 25, 2015, with a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale and an intensity of VIII (severe) on the Mercalli scale. It was felt in Nepal, China, India, and Bangladesh. Its focus/hypocentre was in the Gorkha district of Nepal, 15 km below ground.
Describe Nepal.
Nepal is located in South Asia and had a population of approximately 27,000,000 in 2015. It is classified as an LIDC with a GDP per capita of $1155 (or $902 in 2015) and lies on a collision plate boundary.
What were the key impact details of the Nepal earthquake?
The earthquake had a shallow focus, resulted in over 8,500 deaths and around 23,000 casualties, damaged or destroyed over 600,000 structures, and caused an economic damage of about $10,000,000,000.
Fill in the blanks about the Nepal earthquake.
Some small towns saw 70% or more of their buildings destroyed; some villages were entirely destroyed; in the village of Burpak, 700 people were killed and only 4 of its 1200 homes were left standing.
What were the impacts in Kathmandu, Nepal’s only city?
Kathmandu had a population of approximately 1,420,000 (1,180,000 in 2015) with a population density of 20,300 people/km². Over 180 buildings were completely destroyed, and the 19th-century Dharahara Tower fell, killing 200 people.
Describe the aftershocks and landslides resulting from the Nepal earthquake.
There were over 300 aftershocks, with the worst occurring on May 12, 2015, measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale. The mountainous landscape both triggered landslides and complicated rescue efforts. In total, 547 earthquake-linked landslides killed 12 people, and over 3000 landslides (including those from monsoon activity) occurred within 6 weeks.
How did response efforts address the immediate aftermath of the Nepal earthquake?
Almost 90% of the Nepalese army was deployed to help, and helicopters were used to reach mountain areas cut off by landslides. Over 2,800,000 people, including more than 1,400,000 children, were displaced, and the airport runway became cracked, complicating rescue operations.
What international aid and schemes were part of the response to the Nepal earthquake?
India provided 10 tonnes of blankets, 50 tonnes of water, 22 tonnes of food, 2 tonnes of medical supplies (and doctors), and an engineering task force. A cash-for-work scheme was set up, less than 10% of the relief funds came from overseas, and the UK government pledged £33,000,000.
What are three ways to prepare for earthquakes?
Construct earthquake-proof buildings, educate people about earthquake safety, and monitor seismic activity.
