Nepal Earthquake 2015 - Gorkha

Question 1

When + where

Answer 1

25th April 2015
NE of Kathmandu in Nepal

Question 2

Magnitude + depth (3)

Answer 2

Main quake = 7.8
Aftershock = 7.3
Focus was shallow = 15km

Question 3

Factors that make area more vulnerable (4)

Answer 3

It is an LIC with low GNI = less than 3000 per capita
Rapid pop growth with high pop density
Building = poor quality
Kathmandu is built on river sediments = amplifies seismic waves

Question 4

How many died

Answer 4

9000

Question 5

How many homes damaged

Answer 5

700,000

Question 6

Primary hazard

Answer 6

Collapse of unreinforced buildings in rural areas

Question 7

Secondary hazards (2)

Answer 7

5000 Landslides - 200 died in Langtang
Avalanches - 20 killed at Mt Everest base camp

Question 8

Economic cost

Answer 8

5 billion dollars

Question 9

Secondary impact in rural areas (2)

Answer 9

Access to clean water
Land shifts closed up existing water sources that communities relied on

Question 10

Employment sector suffered long and short term (2)

Answer 10

Short - tourism
Long - agriculture

Question 11

Impacts felt beyond Nepal (3)

Answer 11

India - 78 killed
China - 25 killed
20 HEP stations in region damaged

Question 12

Surprised scientists on sediments beneath Kathmandu (2)

Answer 12

Sediments absorbed energy of seismic waves rather than amplifying
Less damage to buildings and city

Question 13

Fewer landslides than expected - why (2)

Answer 13

Rock in region = stronger than expected
Vegetation on slopes = helped stabilise them

Question 14

Nepal’s immediate response

Answer 14

90% of countries military forces were involved in search + rescue

Question 15

International aid (2)

Answer 15

UN released 15million dollars for emergency relief
Uk = £70m in aid

Question 16

Examples of expert help offered to aid relief and rehabilitation (2)

Answer 16

Uk sent 100 search + rescue and medical experts
Uk sent Gurkhas from BA

Question 17

Role played by technology in relief effort (2+)

Answer 17

Scientists asked people to download the LastQuake app = help collect valuable data on the earthquake
The GIS tool ‘crisis’ mapping was used to help coordinate response

Question 18

How did international links and agencies help with reconstruction (2+)

Answer 18

Oxfam = cash for work schemes = construction
World bank grant allowed gov in Nepal to promise 200,000 rupees to 100,000 families to rebuild homes

Question 19

Give evidence response effort was limited in success (3+)

Answer 19

3 months after quake over 500,000 people were ‘food insecure’
So many leaving Kathmandu after quake = roads blocked
Winter aid kits promised by aid agencies didn’t arrive in time