Italy - Hazards On A Local Setting

Question 1

What is Italy at a high risk of

Answer 1

Earthquakes

Question 2

What is the plate boundary

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

3 examples of earthquakes in Italy

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Which earthquake is the focus on

Answer 4

The L’Aquilia one

Question 5

Date of the L’Aquilia earthquake

Answer 5

2009

Question 6

Death of toll of L’Aquilia earthquake

Answer 6

300

Question 7

Injured toll of L’Aquilia earthquake

Answer 7

1500

Question 8

How many people were made homeless in the L’Aquila earthquake

Answer 8

70,000

Question 9

What was the cost of the L’Aquila earthquake

Answer 9

$15 billion

Question 10

Before the L’Aquila earthquake, what was the environment like

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

What happened to many historic buildings during the L’Aquila earthquake

Answer 11

They were destroyed and the architectural nature of L’Aquila was changed. Even some buildings deemed earthquake proof were destroyed

Question 12

Where were civilians rehoused after the L’Aquila earthquake

Answer 12

In suburban settlements outside the city

Question 13

What does economic migration mean

Answer 13

Many of the young population migrate away in search of jobs

Question 14

What did economic migration lead to after the L’Aquila earthquake

Answer 14

Social decline

Question 15

What was the religious/cultural impact of the L’Aquila earthquake

Answer 15

Before the earthquake 30,000 attended the good Friday procession, this fell to 1000 in 2016

Question 16

Why have many shops and bars in the centre of L’Aquila shut down after the earthquake

Answer 16

Many of the residents are further away and reluctant to use

Question 17

What are the profound psychological effects after the L’Aquila earthquake

Answer 17

Mental health issues are common as s result of the earthquake. Many live in fear of a repeat.

Question 18

During the L’Aquila earthquake, what were the knock on effects of large historic university buildings being damaged

Answer 18

It had an impact on enrolment figures and therefore a large economic impact

Question 19

Why did L’Aquila lose tourism after the earthquake

Answer 19

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

Question 20

How is the Italian government planning to reconstruct L’Aquila

Answer 20

To make it economically stronger, it aims to invest in educational buildings; making it more attractive to students

Question 21

What have been the political impacts of the L’Aquila earthquake

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

What were the community response to the L’Aquila earthquake

Answer 22

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.