Italy - Hazards On A Local Setting Flashcards
What is Italy at a high risk of
Earthquakes
What is the plate boundary
Destructive between the Eurasian and African plate which runs North West up the east coast of Italy and east wear across the centre of northern Italy. The country is littered with numerous fault lines around the major boundary.
3 examples of earthquakes in Italy
3 earthquakes with magnitude of up to 6.4 hit Assisi in 1997.
A 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit L’Aquilia in 2009.
A series of earthquakes hit the area around Amatrice in 2016.
Which earthquake is the focus on
The L’Aquilia one
Date of the L’Aquilia earthquake
2009
Death of toll of L’Aquilia earthquake
300
Injured toll of L’Aquilia earthquake
1500
How many people were made homeless in the L’Aquila earthquake
70,000
What was the cost of the L’Aquila earthquake
$15 billion
Before the L’Aquila earthquake, what was the environment like
Hadn’t been an earthquake in 300 years.
Steps had been taken to mitigate the risk through strict building codes which ensured that newly built buildings were strong and resistant to earthquakes.
Much of the city was old with buildings that were built long before the new building codes - these were seriously damaged during the quake.
What happened to many historic buildings during the L’Aquila earthquake
They were destroyed and the architectural nature of L’Aquila was changed. Even some buildings deemed earthquake proof were destroyed
Where were civilians rehoused after the L’Aquila earthquake
In suburban settlements outside the city
What does economic migration mean
Many of the young population migrate away in search of jobs
What did economic migration lead to after the L’Aquila earthquake
Social decline
What was the religious/cultural impact of the L’Aquila earthquake
Before the earthquake 30,000 attended the good Friday procession, this fell to 1000 in 2016
Why have many shops and bars in the centre of L’Aquila shut down after the earthquake
Many of the residents are further away and reluctant to use
What are the profound psychological effects after the L’Aquila earthquake
Mental health issues are common as s result of the earthquake. Many live in fear of a repeat.
During the L’Aquila earthquake, what were the knock on effects of large historic university buildings being damaged
It had an impact on enrolment figures and therefore a large economic impact
Why did L’Aquila lose tourism after the earthquake
It is a country of long history, many buildings held cultural and historical importance and repairs to them cost large amounts of money, while at the same time the economic stability of the area was compromised as tourists deemed the area unsafe and were scared of going
How is the Italian government planning to reconstruct L’Aquila
To make it economically stronger, it aims to invest in educational buildings; making it more attractive to students
What have been the political impacts of the L’Aquila earthquake
Tension has risen as people feel that Politicans and scientists are to blame for the impacts due to inadequate warning. 6 scientists and a government official were put on trial for man slaughter and imprisoned for 7 years but the convictions were overturned 2 years in.
Residents feel discontent that the rebuilding program has been too slow.
Residents wanted to be more involved in the building process.
What were the community response to the L’Aquila earthquake
Community have responded in a variety of ways to the earthquake risk:
Some people have accepted their new suburban homes and feel safer being further away from the plate margin.
Others have taken steps to reduce the impact of future earthquakes. Villagers of Pescomsggiore (east of L’Aquila) have worked with professional builders to create earthquake resistant homes. They use solar panels on the roof to decrease their dependency on mains power.
