hazards- contrasting earthquake events

Question 1

Date and tectonic setting of the Turkey-Syria earthquake?

Answer 1

• 2023
• interaction between the Arabian and Eurasian plates.

Question 2

What were the primary impacts of the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake?

Answer 2

• over 59, 000 deaths
• poorly built buildings collapsed eg. Gaziantep Castle
• 34 billion dollars lost in Turkey

Question 3

What were the secondary impacts of the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake?

Answer 3

• 1.5 million displaced in Turkey; overwhelmed refugee camps in Syria.
• Disease outbreaks like cholera in Syria.
• Disruption of agriculture, trade, and tourism.

Question 4

What factors increased vulnerability in the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake?

Answer 4

• Poor building standards in Turkey, especially rural areas.
• Conflict in Syria hampered response efforts.
• High population density in affected areas.

Question 4

How did Turkey and Syria respond to the 2023 earthquake?

Answer 4

Immediate: International aid, search-and-rescue teams
Long-term: Reconstruction underway; calls for stricter building codes.
Challenges: Delayed aid in Syria due to conflict and sanctions.

Question 5

Date and tectonic setting of the Tohoku earthquake?

Answer 5

• 2011
• Subduction zone at the Pacific and North American plates
• offshore

Question 6

What were the primary impacts of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake?

Answer 6

• 18,500 fatalities.
• Tsunami: Waves up to 40m high, wiping out coastal towns.
• Structural Damage: 332,000 buildings destroyed

Question 7

What were the secondary impacts of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake?

Answer 7

• $360 billion (most expensive natural disaster in history).
• Radiation contamination of land and ocean
• Displacement of 470,000 people; mental health issues for survivors.

Question 8

How did Japan respond to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake?

Answer 8

Immediate: 100,000 Self-Defense Forces mobilized; international aid from 100+ countries.
Long-term: Coastal defenses rebuilt, stricter nuclear regulations

Question 9

What factors increased vulnerability in the 2011 Tohoku earthquake?

Answer 9

• Advanced infrastructure overwhelmed by scale of earthquake and tsunami.
• Aging population in rural areas contributed to higher mortality.
• Dependence on nuclear power added complexity to disaster management.

Question 10

How did the magnitudes differ between the 2023 Turkey-Syria and 2011 Tohoku earthquakes?

Answer 10

Turkey-Syria: Magnitude 7.8
Tohoku: Magnitude 9.0

Question 11

What were the differences in death tolls and economic losses between the two earthquakes?

Answer 11

Turkey-Syria: 59,000+ deaths, $34 billion economic loss.
Tohoku: 18,500 deaths, $360 billion economic loss.

Question 12

How did the responses to the earthquakes differ?

Answer 12

Turkey-Syria: Delayed response in Syria due to conflict; reconstruction still ongoing.
Tohoku: Swift response, advanced disaster planning, $300 billion invested in rebuilding.