Sichuan Earthquake

Question 1

Location?

Answer 1

Rural china.

Question 2

Date?

Answer 2

May 2008

Question 3

Magnitude?

Answer 3

7.9 on the Richter scale (pretty extreme)

Question 4

Deaths?

Answer 4

69000-80000

Question 5

Plate margin type?

Answer 5

Destructive plate margin, where the Indian Ocean and Eurasian plate meet:

Question 6

Homeless?

Answer 6

Up to 11 million

Question 7

Statistic about weak infrastructure?

Answer 7

80% of all buildings collapsed in Beichuan county.

Question 8

Economic impacts?

Answer 8

Almost $150 billion, 1/5 of its annual tax revenues.

Question 9

Environmental impacts?

Answer 9

Landslides destroyed crops and blocked rivers, creating ‘quake lakes’. Causing extensive flooding and destruction of panda habitats.

Question 10

Political impacts?

Answer 10

One child policy was in place and the government stated that people could have another child. Caused outrage that children could be ‘replaced’.

Question 11

Local responses?

Answer 11

Rescue teams and soldiers dispatched. Free housing for 625 families in Sichuan.

Question 12

National response?

Answer 12

Military parachuted In as roads were blocked by landslides. Banks to forgive debts owed by uninsured survivors.

Question 13

International response?

Answer 13

Japan gave aid of medical supplies and donations.

Question 14

Mitigation?

Answer 14

Plans to strengthen infrastructure. Evacuation routes.

Question 15

Local response challenges?

Answer 15

Roads destroyed and blocked by landslides. Rural area so communications were poor.