Section A: The Challenge of Natural Hazards

Question 1

How do Nepal and Chile differ in terms of wealth?

Answer 1

Chile has a higher GDP and level of
development compared to Nepal. Chile’s
GDP is the 38th highest in the world
whereas Nepal’s GDP is 109th in the
world.

Question 2

When was the Chile Earthquake?

Answer 2

17th February 2010

Question 3

What was the magnitude of the Chile earthquake?

Answer 3

8.8 on the Richter scale.

Question 4

When was the Nepal earthquake?

Answer 4

25th April 2015.

Question 5

What was the magnitude of the Nepal earthquake?

Answer 5

7.9 on the Richter scale.

Question 6

How many people died in the Chile earthquake?

Answer 6

500.

Question 7

How many people were injured in the Chile
earthquake?

Answer 7

12,000.

Question 8

Overall, how many people were affected by the Chile
earthquake?

Answer 8

Around 800,000.

Question 9

What were the effects of the Chile earthquake on
buildings and infrastructure?

Answer 9

Thousands of buildings and vital
infrastructure destroyed, including:
● 22,000 homes,
● 4,500 schools,
● 56 hospitals,
● 53 ports,
● The Santiago airport (damaged),
● Electricity, water and
communications infrastructure.

Question 10

What was the estimated cost of the Chile
earthquake?

Answer 10

USD$30 billion.

Question 11

What were the secondary effects of the Chile
earthquake?

Answer 11

Landslides damaged 1500km of roads.
A tsunami hit coastal areas of Chile.
Fires broke out e.g. a fire in a chemical
plant outside Santiago.

Question 12

How many people died in the Nepal earthquake?

Answer 12

9,000.

Question 13

How many people were injured in the Nepal
earthquake?

Answer 13

20,000.

Question 14

Overall, how many people were affected by the
Nepal earthquake?

Answer 14

Over 8 million (⅓ of Nepal’s population).

Question 15

How many people were left homeless by the Nepal
earthquake?

Answer 15

3 million.

Question 16

How many schools were destroyed in the Nepal
earthquake?

Answer 16

7000.

Question 17

How many shops were destroyed in the
Nepal earthquake and how did this affect
the population?

Answer 17

50% of shops were destroyed, which
limited food supplies in Nepal and
affected people’s sources of income.

Question 18

How many people were in urgent need of food, water
and shelter after the Nepal earthquake?

Answer 18

1.4 million.

Question 19

How did the Nepal earthquake affect utilities (e.g.
electricity, water etc.)?

Answer 19

Electricity, water, sanitation and
communications severely affected due to
damaged and destroyed infrastructure.

Question 20

What was the estimated cost of the Nepal
earthquake?

Answer 20

USD$5 billion.

Question 21

What were the secondary effects of the Nepal
earthquake?

Answer 21

Landslides and avalanches triggered.
Landslides blocked rivers like the Kali
Gandaki river and flooded areas.

Question 22

How many people died in an avalanche on Mount
Everest triggered by the Nepal earthquake?

Answer 22

At least 19.

Question 23

What did Chile do to find and help survivors after
the earthquake?

Answer 23

Deployed search and rescue teams to
search for survivors, and set up
temporary field hospitals to care for
them.

Question 24

What repairs were carried out immediately in Chile to
help with relief efforts?

Answer 24

Temporary repairs to the Route 5
north-south highway which connects the
capital, Santiago, to the rest of the
country.

Question 25

How many shelters were immediately set up and built in Chile for the homeless?

Answer 25

5,000 temporary shelters were immediately distributed and enough money was eventually raised to build 30,000 temporary shelters.

Question 26

How quickly was power and water restored in Chile after the earthquake?

Answer 26

Power and water was restored to 90% of homes within 10 days.

Question 27

How much money was raised after the Chile earthquake?

Answer 27

USD$60 million.

Question 28

How did Chile respond to destroyed and damaged housing in the long-term?

Answer 28

National housing reconstruction plan introduced one month after the earthquake. $USD2.5 billion pledged for 196,000 households affected. Unsafe buildings were demolished.

Question 29

Did Chile rely on foreign aid in the long-term?

Answer 29

Chile did not rely heavily on foreign aid for recovery due to Chile’s strong economy and preparedness.

Question 30

How did Nepal source relief supplies immediately after the earthquake?

Answer 30

Nepal relied heavily on international aid from areas such as China, India and the UK. These countries supplied medical support and essential supplies.

Question 31

How much was raised internationally after the Nepal earthquake?

Answer 31

Over £87 million in donations alone.

Question 32

What did Nepal use for search, rescue and support?

Answer 32

Helicopters were used to search for survivors and reach those trapped from landslides and avalanches. They were also used for resource distribution to cut off communities.

Question 33

How and why were tents so heavily relied upon after the Nepal earthquake?

Answer 33

Half a million tents were supplied and used for shelter for the homeless, classrooms and temporary hospitals/health care centres. Hospitals were severely overwhelmed and there were fears of more severe aftershocks causing more damage to buildings.

Question 34

How many people immediately fled Kathmandu after the earthquake?

Answer 34

300,000.

Question 35

How was social media used immediately after the Nepal earthquake?

Answer 35

Social media sites such as Facebook allowed people to mark themselves as safe, to let family members know they were out of danger.

Question 36

How did Nepal respond to damaged and destroyed buildings in the long-term?

Answer 36

In 2019, 3/4 of homes were either fully rebuilt or under repair. The government introduced stricter building codes.

Question 37

What issues associated with landslides did Nepal have to respond to in the long-term?

Answer 37

Lakes formed by landslides needed to be carefully drained and cleared so rivers could return to normal. Roads also had to be repaired after landslide damage.

Question 38

What were the long-term responses to Mount Everest routes?

Answer 38

By August 2015, base camp and the routes on Mount Everest were repaired and mountaineers could return.

Question 39

What happened in September 2015 that severely hindered Nepal’s recovery process?

Answer 39

India imposed a blockade at the border, which stopped fuel, medicines and earthquake relief material from being transported into Nepal.

Question 40

When did Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines?

Answer 40

7th November 2013.

Question 41

How strong was Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 41

Category 5 super typhoon.

Question 42

What were the sustained (10 minute) wind speeds of Typhoon Haiyan at its peak intensity?

Answer 42

230 km/h (145 mph).

Question 43

What were the sustained (1 minute) wind speeds of Typhoon Haiyan at its peak intensity?

Answer 43

315 km/h (195 mph).

Question 44

How many people died in Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 44

6,300.

Question 45

On average, how large were the storm surges caused by Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 45

Over 5 metres.

Question 46

How many fishing boats were destroyed?

Answer 46

30,000.

Question 47

How many people were displaced due to Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 47

Over 600,000.

Question 48

How many homes were damaged or destroyed in Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 48

40,000.

Question 49

How much of the city of Tacloban was destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 49

90% of the city.

Question 50

As well as the storm surge, what were the other primary effects of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 50

Heavy winds damaging infrastructure. Heavy rain (over 400mm) causing flooding.

Question 51

How many people were affected by Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 51

14 million people.

Question 52

How many people lost their source of income due to Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 52

6 million.

Question 53

How did Typhoon Haiyan affect health?

Answer 53

There were major shortages of food, water and shelter. The outbreak of disease was feared due to poor sanitation conditions in shelters and overwhelming amounts of dead bodies.

Question 54

How long was power out in some places after Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 54

Up to a month after the typhoon.

Question 55

What other effects did flooding have after Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 55

Triggered landslides, which blocked roads and slowed relief efforts.

Question 56

What slowed the distribution of aid after Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 56

Major disruptions to flights and ferry services, making it difficult to reach remote communities.

Question 57

How did Typhoon Haiyan affect crime?

Answer 57

Looting and violence broke out in Tacloban.

Question 58

How did international aid organisations respond to Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 58

They brought food, water, aid supplies and temporary shelters to support those affected.

Question 59

How did the Philippines Red Cross prepare for Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 59

They pre-positioned emergency supplies ahead of the typhoon which meant they could be distributed quickly after the typhoon hit.

Question 60

How many people did the Red Cross supply clean water to after Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 60

1 million.

Question 61

How did Canada and the US respond to Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 61

Deployed military aircrafts to assist with search and rescue and supply distribution.

Question 62

How did France, Belgium and Israel immediately respond to Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 62

They set up field hospitals to help the injured.

Question 63

How many evacuation centres were set up after Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 63

1,200.

Question 64

How did the UNDP support locals whilst also funding the clean-up process after Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 64

Set up cash-for-work schemes which paid villagers to clear debris and medical waste.

Question 65

How was the risk of disease outbreaks limited in the long-term?

Answer 65

Polio and measles vaccines were given to children in a mass immunisation program.

Question 66

What was the ‘build back better’ strategy implemented by the Philippines government and how successful has it been?

Answer 66

A scheme for 205,000 homes to be rebuilt away from high risk coastal areas. In 2016, only 1% of the target had been achieved.

Question 67

How have fishing and agricultural sectors recovered from Typhoon Haiyan in the long term?

Answer 67

Fishing boats donated by organisations like Oxfam supported the fishing sector. Rice farming was quickly re-established but coconut farming is taking longer as trees take years to grow.

Question 68

What have environmental organisations been doing in the long-term after Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 68

Protecting and replanting mangrove forests, which are important for fishing and act as a barrier against storm surges.