Natural Hazards (Case Study) Hazardous Setting Flashcards
Why is central Italy at a high risk of earthquakes?
Fault line runs north-south close to the Apennine mountain range and east-west across the centre of Italy. The fault lines are near the destructive plate margin between the Eurasian and African plates.
Give three examples of earthquakes in that area of Italy.
Three earthquakes up to magnitude 6.4 hit the area around Assisi in 1997.
A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck L’Aquila in April 2009.
A series of earthquakes hit the area around Amatrice from August to October 2016.
What is the background behind the L’Aquila earthquake?
It was caused by movement along the north-south fault line. It killed around 300 people, made about 70,000 people homeless and cost Italy an estimated US $15 billion.
Why were lots of buildings severely damaged or destroyed?
Before 2009, L’Aquila hadn’t suffered from a major earthquake for 300 years. Therefore, much of the city was very old, and some newer buildings didn’t comply with regulations, so they were severely damaged or destroyed by the earthquake.
How was the social character of the area affected?
Attendance at social and religious events has declined - around 1000 people attended a Good Friday procession in 2016, compared with around 30,000 before the earthquake. People are reluctant to use the shops, bars and restaurants that were rebuilt in the town centre and many have closed down.
People were rehoused in newly built earthquake-resistant homes in suburban areas, which altered the architectural and social character of the city.
How was the economic character of the city affected?
University buildings in L’Aquila were badly damaged, making them unusable. The number of students enrolling decreased, which caused a major economic loss for the city.
How was the political character of the area affected?
Officials and scientists have been blamed for not giving the public adequate warning about the earthquake risk. This has led to tension between residents and officials.
Which residents took their own steps to reduce risks of future earthquakes?
Some residents of Pescomaggiore, a village to the east of L’Aquila, worked with professional builders to create new earthquake-resistant homes using wood and straw, with solar panels to decrease reliance on mains power.
