Facts

Question 1

What was the date and time of the earthquake?

Answer 1

12th May 2008, 14.28

Question 2

What was the magnitude of the earthquake? How powerful were the largest aftershocks?

Answer 2

7.9 on the Richter Scale. Some aftershocks measured 6.0

Question 3

How deeps was the focus?

Answer 3

10km very shallow

Question 4

How far was the epicentre from the nearest city?

Answer 4

92km from Chengdu

Question 5

How many years had it been since the last earthquake?

Answer 5

75, 1933 was a 7.5

Question 6

Name the fault line which the rupturing occurred, causing the earthquake.

Answer 6

Longmenshan fault

Question 7

Describe the geology of the Sichuan Basin. How did this contribute to the impact of the earthquake?

Answer 7

Unconsolidated sediments. These applied the shaking and were also prone to liquefaction

Question 8

What was the official death toll? What is the likely actual death toll?

Answer 8

69,185 and 87,652 including missing and presumed dead.

Question 9

How many people were made homeless?

Answer 9

5 million

Question 10

How many buildings collapsed?

Answer 10

21 million

Question 11

How many people died in collapsed school buildings? Why?

Answer 11

11,000. Earthquake occurred early whilst student were in class, school buildings not earthquake proof

Question 12

One impact on transport infrastructure

Answer 12

5,000 km of roads destroyed or damaged, several bridges damaged, railways destroyed by landslides, Chengdu Airport closed

Question 13

Give an example of one public service building that was destroyed?

Answer 13

Hospitals and schools

Question 14

How many farm animals died?

Answer 14

32 million

Question 15

What caused the release of toxic gas in Shifang?

Answer 15

2 chemical factories

Question 16

Why was flooding a problem after the earthquake?

Answer 16

Rivers were dammed by landslides creating 34 ‘quake lakes’- which threatened to break.

Question 17

How many rescue workers were killed in landslides?

Answer 17

158

Question 18

When had seismic building design code been introduced? Why did many buildings not conform to the code?

Answer 18

1976, many buildings constructed before this date

Question 19

What hampered rescue efforts?

Answer 19

Mountainous terrain, damaged roads and bridges.

Question 20

How many troops were deployed to help?

Answer 20

140,000 by foot, boat and helicopter

Question 21

How many resident were evacuated?

Answer 21

250,000

Question 22

Give an example to show how quickly roads in the area were repaired

Answer 22

By June 248 out of 254 we’re back in use

Question 23

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

Answer 23

Yes, foreign governments (Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Russia) and NGOs ( Red Cross) sent aid.

Question 24

Give an example of help given by the Chinese people

Answer 24

100,000 people volunteered to help, they donated $1.5 billion, blood was also donated

Question 25

How has the government responded to the widespread failure of schools to withstand the earthquake?

Answer 25

Promised to crack down on the design of school buildings

Question 26

Why has the town of Beishuan still not been rebuilt? What has happened to the population?

Answer 26

Half the population died and 80% of the buildings collapsed, so it has been left as a memorial to those killed. The remaining population have been rehoused in a neighbouring town.

Question 27

What’s the link between the earthquake and China’s one-child policy?

Answer 27

The policy was relaxed in Sichuan after the earthquake as many parents had lost their only child.

Question 28

Give three features of an earthquake proof (life-saving) building design

Answer 28

Rubber shock-absorbers at the base to, computer-controlled weights on the roof to reduce movement, interlocking steel frame (cross-bracing), automatic window shutters to prevent falling glass.

Question 29

How can school children and the public be prepared for future earthquakes?

Answer 29

Regular earthquake drills, ‘drop, cover, hold’ drill.