Earthquake Case Studies

Question 1

What is the LEDC earthquake case study

Answer 1

Haiti 2010

Question 2

Where is Haiti situated

Answer 2

North of Caribbean plate on transform(conservative )plate boundary

Question 3

What is the magnitude of the Haiti earthquake

Answer 3

7.0 on 12th January

Question 4

Focus and epicentre of Haiti earthquake

Answer 4

13km below surface of the earth - shallow so lots of shaking

Epicentre - 16km south west of port au prince

Question 5

What caused Haitis earthquake

Answer 5

Slip along existing fault

Question 6

Primary effects of Haiti earthquake

Answer 6

3million affected 
217000-230000 dead 
300,000 injured 
100,000 homeless 
250000 residences &30000 commercial buildings collapsed/damaged

Question 7

What buildings were hit in Haiti

Answer 7

Schools, hospitals

Municipal and government buildings -UN and world bank HQs

Question 8

Aside from buildings what else was damaged during the Haiti earthquake

Answer 8

Roads, bridges ,telephone lines,electrical system

Port was hit - hard to ship aid and supplies

Question 9

Secondary effects of the Haiti earthquake

Answer 9

Spread of fires and diseases eg cholera 
Poor living conditions 
Lack of sanitation 
Shortages of food and water 
Small local tsunami

Question 10

Why so many die in Haiti earthquake

Answer 10

Shallow depth - more shaking
Struck in most densely populated area
Haiti is poorest country in Western Hemisphere
Buildings in poor condition -not earthquake resistant
Rescue teams took 48hrs to arrive
Severe shortage of doctors

Question 11

Short term responses to Haiti earthquake

Answer 11

• International aid teams arrive with food, water and medical supplies-Dominican republic respond first
• 230000 tents distributed, temporary camps set up outside zone of destruction
• people dug for survivors - hands and basic tools
• people grieve for loved ones

Question 12

Long term responses to Haiti earthquake

Answer 12

• Vast areas need rebuilding from scratch
• g8 countries have written off Haitis debts
• forbid building in high risk areas
• pressure to build buildings that are “life safe”
• many returned home to rural areas where they originally migrated from

Question 13

MEDC earthquake case study

Answer 13

Christchurch New Zealand 2011

Question 14

Tectonic setting of Christchurch

Answer 14

Highly tectonically active country
Conservative boundary
Smaller faults ruptured

Question 15

What was the magnitude of the Christchurch earthquake

Answer 15

6.3 it was an aftershock caused by the Greendale Fault rupturing

Question 16

Why did the Christchurch earthquake cause more damage than darfield earthquake

Answer 16

It was closer to built up area of Christchurch and at lunchtime when lots of people on the streets of the city

Question 17

Vulnerability of Christchurch earthquake

Answer 17

• Wealthy- GDP per capita $41,000
• Mountainous - pop live on coast
• Christchurch -3rd biggest city in NZ
• Built on alluvial sediment - liquefaction
• Strict building codes renewed every 10yrs

Question 18

Effects of Christchurch earthquake

Answer 18

• Water pipes,road bridges ,power lines broken
• Brought down already damaged buildings -sept 2010 earthquake- cathedral damaged
• Liquefaction
• 185 deaths 164 injured - Canterbury television building collapse

Question 19

Responses to Christchurch earthquake

Answer 19

• National Crisis management centre activated - national state of emergency
• Emergency services -Japan, U.K. Sent specialist rescue teams
• Land use Map drawn up
• CBD off limits for 2yrs
• 1000 buildings demolished - spire of cathedral

Question 20

How many people left the city as a result of Christchurch earthquake.why?

Answer 20

70,000 due to uninhabitable homes

Question 21

How is Christchurch now?

Answer 21

Remains “ghost town “
People waiting for insurance pay outs
Long way off being recovered