Nepal Earthquake - Natural Hazards Flashcards
Date
25th April 2015
Magnitude
7.8 on Richter Scale
15km deep epicentre, just outside of Kathmandu
Cause
Release of pressure at Indian/Eurasian destructive plate boundary
Primary effect
> 8,600 people killed > 14,500 injured > 18 campers killed on Everest > 45,000 classrooms damaged > landslide killed 2,500 people > 600,000 homes destroyed > 50% of shops were lost > 7,000 schools destroyed
Secondary effects
> 2.8 million made homeless
1.1 million children denied access to education
aftershocks damaged more buildings
landslides damaged harvest - long term loss of food supplies
tourism reduced by 72%
$6.6 billion as total cost of rebuilding
will take over a decade to financially recover
Short term response
> people dug with bare hands to get people out
funeral pier set up in the street to dispose of the dead
rescue team from USA, UK, Pakistan, Germany, India
Uk public donated £41 million
15,000 temporary learning centres installed
oxfam provided clean water to over 400000 people
islamic relief provided 2,500 meals
oxfam installed 11,000 L water tank
people given tarpaulin, tents and noodles
120 medical teams deployed
Long term response
> Asian bank gave $200 million to rebuilding process
medical teams remain active and are educating people
new national building codes have been created
Oxfam ran cash programme, helping 15,000 people to earn as they rebuilt their homes
UN ran ‘education in a box’
Habitat humanity built earthquake proof houses
social effects
> 7,000 schools destroyed > 8,600 killed > 2.8 million made homeless > 14,500 injured > 500 health facilities damaged > communication lines cut off > 1.1 million children denied access to education > 2500 killed by landslides
economic effects
> $6.6 billion cost to rebuild
72% reduction in tourism
country put back 100 years
environmental effects
> avalanche killing 18 on Everest
> farmers harvests were reduced or lost that season
political effects
> exposed a weak government
> damaged internal political barriers
