Earthquake case study: Sichuan, China, 2008

Question 1

what was the date of the earthquake?

Answer 1

12th May 2008 (14:28)

Question 2

how deep was the focus?

Answer 2

10km (very shallow)

Question 3

what was the magnitude of the earthquake?

Answer 3

7.9 on Richter scale (some after shocks measured 6)

Question 4

how many years had it been since the last earthquake?

Answer 4

75 years

Question 5

name the faultline along which the rupturing occured, causing the earthquake

Answer 5

Longmenshan fault

Question 6

describe the geology of the Sichuan basin

Answer 6

unconsolidated (loose) sediment that amplified the effects of the shaking and were also prone to liquefaction

Question 7

what was the official death toll?

Answer 7

just over 69,000 but likely around 80,000 including missing and presumed dead)

Question 8

how many people made homeless?

Answer 8

5 million

Question 9

how many people died in collapsed school building?

Answer 9

11,000- school wasn’t earthquake prrof

Question 10

give a couple examples of impact on transport infrastructure

Answer 10

railways destroyed by landslides, nearby airports closed along with several bridges damaged

Question 11

what public service buildings were destroyed?

Answer 11

schools and hospitals

Question 12

what caused the release of toxic gas?

Answer 12

2 chemical factories

Question 13

why was flooding a problem after the earthquake?

Answer 13

rivers were damned by landslides creating ‘quake lakes’

Question 14

loss of factories, hydro-electric power generation and tourist revenues will be felt for years=

Answer 14

long-term impact for people in this region

Question 15

the government was rapid in providing emergency response as they sent in troops by foot, on boat and by helicopter

Answer 15

(however hundreds killed due to landslides)

Question 16

although the emergency response was rapid, what hampered rescue efforts?

Answer 16

mountainous terrain, damaged roads and bridges

Question 17

did China ask for help to cope with the impacts of the earthquake?

Answer 17

yes (unusually) from foreign govs e.g. Taiwan and Japan and NGOs e.g. Red Cross sent aid

Question 18

Chinese government promised to crack down on the incompetence of corrupt construction of

Answer 18

schools due to over 10,000 children dying in school building not of a sufficient standard or earthquake proof

Question 19

when had a seismic building design code been introduced?

Answer 19

1970s but many buildings constructed before this date

Question 20

why has the town of Beishuan not been rebuilt?

Answer 20

half the population died and 80% of buildings collapsed so it has been left as a memorial for those killed

Question 21

one can only hope that this earthquake serves as a wake-up call to govs in earthquake-prone areas, especially in mountainous zones so there is a desperate need to

Answer 21

prepare both the people and infrastructure for the day on which on earthquake strikes (earthquake-prone mountainous areas should be questioned regarding suitability on having large settlements as like the Chinese Gov, some may be deemed to dangerous and high-risk for living in)