LEDC earthquake case study - Nepal

Question 1

Fact file

Answer 1

Saturday 25th April
Lasted 2 minutes
7.9 on Richter scale
Epicentre between Capital Kathmandu and city Pokhara in Ghorka region.

Question 2

Primary effects

Answer 2

Buildings easily collapsed due to their poor construction and lack of suitable foundations.
Ancient monuments destroyed.
Earthquake triggered rockfalls and avalanches in the Himalayas and at the Base Camp of Everest, where 18 climbers were killed.
Death toll: 8,000
Injured: 14,500
2.8 million homeless
Communication lines cut off
Roads very badly damaged - some villages near epicentre isolated.
Put back 100 years
1.1 million children deprived of normal childhood.

Question 3

Secondary impacts

Answer 3

Outbreak of cholera.
Tourism was main source of income.
Many tourist sites and destinations severely damaged.

Question 4

Second earthquake

Answer 4

7.3 on Richter scale

Already rescue teams in country to help

Question 5

Immediate responses

Answer 5

As the dust settles, people dug with their bare hands to find those who w were buried.
Injured carried to hospital by people in the streets.
Funeral pyres lit.
Emergency services provided tarpaulin and tents.
Food distributed.
Sunday, earth moving equipment was sent to rescue people under the rubble.
Aid sent from US, UK Pakistan, Germany and India.
Dogs and heat detecting equipment.
As hospitals filled up, casualties treated in the streets.
Water and water purification tablets, along with more tents, solar lights and blankets distributed.
Nepal has only one airport at Kathmandu so getting aid to country problematic.
British public gave £41 million.
Christian aid, Islamic Relief and Oxfam.

Question 6

Long term responses

Answer 6

Temporary schools set up.
Water pumps installed.
Housing rebuilt.