Nepal Earthquake Flashcards
Date of earthquake
25th of April 2015
Location
Nepal
Asia
NE of Kathmandu
Magnitude of the earthquake
7.8
Depth of the focus
15km deep
Is this a high or low risk for earthquakes
high
one of the most seismically hazard regions
Factors that make the area vulnerable to earthquakes
It is an LIC - GNI less than $3000 per capita (economic)
Rapid population growth - high population density (social)
Buildings and population are of a poor quality - building codes not enforced , unsurfaced roads , power cuts (economic and political)
Kathmandu built on river sediments/unconsolidated material (physical)
Problem with curruption (political)
Deaths
9000
Homes destroyed or damaged
23,000
What primary hazard caused most deaths
Collapsing of buildings
What secondary hazards casued most deaths
Landslides - 5000 landslides , 200 died in the Langtang landslide
Avalanches - 20 killed at Mt Everest base camp
Cost of damages
$5 billion
What secondary impact was a big challenge in rural areas
Access to clean water
What industry suffered short term loss
Tourism
What industry suffered longer term loss
Agriculture
What other places where impacted
78 killed in India
25 killed in China
20 HEP stations damaged
What about the sediments beneath Kathmandu surprised scientists
It absorbed the energy instead of amplifying it
What was the reason for there being less landslides then expected
The rock in the region where stronger than expected
Vegetation helped stabilise slopes
Example of Nepal’s immediate response
90% of the country’s military were involved in search and rescue
Examples of international aid
UN release $15 million for emergency relief
NGOs provided emergency supplies
Countries donated substantial aid
Examples of expert help offered
UK sent 100 search and rescue responders and medical experts
UK sent Gurkhas from the army
Medicins San Frontiers helped evacuate people by helicopter
Oxfam provided training to carpenters , masons and women to construct termporary shelters
Examples of how technology played a role
Scientist asked people to download the LastQuake app to help collect data on the earthquake
GIS tool of Crisis mapping was used to help coordinate responses
How did international links and agencies help with reconstruction
Oxfam set up cash for work schemes
World Bank granted the Nepal government 200,000 rupees to give to 100,000 families to rebuild
Family members abroad set back remittances
