Deck 6a - Tectonics: Amatrice Earthquake Flashcards
What year was the Amatrice earthquake?
2016
What time did the Amatrice earthquake occur?
3.36am
What hazards were caused by the Amatrice earthquake?
Ground shaking, landslides
What type of plate boundary is Amatrice on and which tectonic plates are involved?
Destructive plate boundary- Adriatic and Eurasian plates
Why are the Apennines (in Italy) prone to earthquakes?
(FREQUENCY)
There are two main faults running through Italy (North-South fault and East-West Fault) meaning Italy is being stretched in different directions. The Apennine mountain range is being stretched in a NE-SW direction at a rate of 3mm per year leading to tension building up in the rocks.
What magnitude was the Amatrice earthquake and what depth did it occur at?
(MAGNITUDE)
6.2 MMS, shallow focus (5.1km)
What was the duration of the Amatrice earthquake?
(DURATION)
1 minute. Followed by 8 days of aftershocks (approximately 2,000) some with a magnitude as high as 5.5. on the MMS.
What signs were there before the Amatrice earthquake occured?
(PREDICTABILITY)
2 months of seismic activity prior to the main earthquake.
What area did the Amatrice earthquake impact?
(AREAL EXTENT)
Large region of Italy including Umbria, Lazio and Maribe
What was the GNI of Italy during the Amatrice earthquake?
(ECONOMIC vulnerability)
$42,490
What was the level of technology available in Italy during the Amatrice earthquake?
(ECONOMIC vulnerability)
High levels of seismic monitoring
How education were the Italian population about the risks of earthquakes prior to the Amatrice earthquake?
(SOCIO-ECONOMIC vulnerability)
Primary and secondary education were compulsory
What was the population structure of Italy before the earthquake?
(SOCIAL vulnerability)
-Ageing population especially in rural areas.
-70% of the population is urban
-High life expectancy (Male- 81 yrs/Female- 85 yrs old)
-Low population density (14/km2)
What festival was taking place in Amatrice during the earthquake and how did it impact on vulnerability?
(SOCIAL vulnerability)
15th annual food festival increased the population with visitors that were uneducated about the hazards of earthquakes and unprepared to respond effectively.
What is the Italian government view on earthquake management?
(POLTICAL vulnerability)
Strong, stable government with access to resources that are distributed without corruption.
What are the economic impacts of the Amatrice earthquakes?
-Up to $11bn damages
-Historic town centre of town destroyed
-Severe impact on tourism
-Destruction of valuable churches and artwork from renaissance periods
What are the social/demographic impacts of the Amatrice earthquake?
-299 dead
-Over 2,000 homeless and in emergency shelters
-Culture heritage of the town destroyed
-Destruction of valuable churches and artwork from renaissance periods (loss of cultural artwork)
What are the environmental impacts of the Amatrice earthquake?
-Landslides and avalanches wiped out vast areas of ecosystem
-Water contamination
How prepared was Italy for the Amatrice earthquake?
-70% of Italy’s buildings did not meet seismic standards
-Seismic activity was monitored before and a search and rescue plan was in place
-Lack of evacuation due to the event happening during the night
What was the response (short term) to the Amatrice earthquake?
-Search and rescue teams sent out by the Italian Red Cross (over 4,000 people involved)
-Evacuation lead to 15,000 in temporary shelters
-Mobile kitchens set up by the Italian Red Cross in evacuation camps with volunteers provided emotional support to survivors
What was the recovery (long term) to the Amatrice earthquake?
-Drones and computer models were used to assess damage to churches and historic buildings
-Government appointed special commissioner to oversee re-construction of Amatrice and other mountain villages
What was the mitigation after the Amatrice earthquake?
-Casa Italia policy was introduced to ensure that buildings are earthquake proof
-‘Safe Schools’ programme set aside $4bn to help improve safety of school buildings
-Zones set up to highlight the most dangerous areas
Why was the response to the Amatrice earthquake criticised?
The rebuild of the housing and town centre was slow. Much of the original town has been left and new buildings have been constructed elsewhere
