Tectonic Processes & Hazards - Case Studies - Japan, China & Haiti - Governance & Natural Disasters of Earthquakes Flashcards
Why is comparing impacts between countries difficult
both the physical nature of the event and the socio-economic profiles of affected places are different
……………………….. in developed and emerging economies are, in some cases, enormous
economic costs
deaths in developed countries are ….., except for the 2011 Japanese tsunami (a very rare megadisaster)
deaths in developed countries are low, except for the 2011 Japanese tsunami (a very rare megadisaster)
……………………. impacts are small compared with those of ……………..
volcanic eruption impacts are small compared with those of earthquakes and tsunami
Why are major death tolls from tectonic hazards rare in developed countries
-advanced…
- advanced and widespread insurance, allowing people to recover from disasters (at least in the long term)
Why are major death tolls from tectonic hazards rare in developed countries
-government-run….
- government-run preparations such as Japan’s Disaster Prevention Day on 1st September each year, as well as public education about risk, coping, response and evacuation.
Why are major death tolls from tectonic hazards rare in developed countries
-sophisticated
- sophisticated monitoring of volcanoes and, where possible, defences such as tsunami walls
Why are major death tolls from tectonic hazards rare in developed countries
-regulated
- regulated local planning systems, which use land-use zoning and building codes to ensure buildings can withstand hazards and are not located in areas of unacceptable risk.
Developed country case study?
Japan (2011) earthquake/tsnuami
How many people died in the Japan (2011) earthquake/tsnuami
15, 853 deaths
How many people got injured in the Japan (2011) earthquake/tsnuami
6,023
How many people became homeless in the Japan (2011) earthquake/tsnuami
130,927 people homeless
How many buildings destroyed in the Japan (2011) earthquake/tsnuami
300,000
Economic cost of the Japan (2011) earthquake/tsnuami
US$235 billion
Signficant impact on population health from the Japan (2011) earthquake/tsunami
- Despite early warning systems, Japan failed to take into account the impact of a tsunami on a nuclear power plant
- -the plant had been built to withstand a tsunami - this caused the Fukushima event –> radiation leaks
What is the GDP per capita of Japan in 2023
- GDP per capita: US$36,990 (2023)
What was the magnitude of the Japan 2011
9
Emerging country case study?
China (Sichuan 2008 earthquake)
How many people died in the China (Sichuan 2008 earthquake)
Deaths: 69,195 (5,335 children)
How many people became homeless in the China (Sichuan 2008 earthquake)
5 million people homeless
How many people died in the China (Sichuan 2008 earthquake)
US$125.6 bilion
HDI of China?
0.73
What is the GDP per capita of China in 2023
- China (Sichuan 2008 earthquake)
What was the magnitude of the China (Sichuan 2008 earthquake)
9
What caused the majority of deaths in China’s earthquake
- The earthquake triggered landslides that led to a quarter of the earthquake-related deaths.
Where did most deaths take place in the China earthquake
- The earthquake’s location meant the damage was concentrated to rural areas not densely populated cities.
How many people died in the Haiti (2010 earthquake)
222,576 deaths
How many people became homeless in the Haiti (2010 earthquake)
1.3million
Economic cost of the Haiti (2010 earthquake)
US$14 billion
Signficant impact on population health from the Haiti (2010 earthquake)
- By 2015 80,000 people still living in temporary housing camps.
What is the GDP per capita of Haiti in 2023
- GDP per capita: US$1,219 (2023)
What was the magnitude of the Haiti (2010 earthquake)
7
What physical planning and preparation was in place before the Japan (2011) earthquake/tsnuami
- 75% of buildings were designed with earthquakes in mind.
- 10m high sea wall built.
What educative planning and preparation was in place before the Japan (2011) earthquake/tsnuami
- Warning systems - text messages sent/appears on TV.
- Education e.g. earthquake drills on Sept 1st and nursery rhymes.
What were the positive short term responses to the Japan (2011) earthquake/tsnuami
- Within 24 hours, 110,000 troops were mobilised
- All TV channels immediately switch to EQ coverage
- Government quickly allowed search and rescue teams from other countries
What was a negative impact of the Japan (2011) earthquake/tsnuami
- Despite early warning systems, Japan failed to take into account the impact of a tsunami on a nuclear power plant
- the plant had been built to withstand a tsunami - this caused the Fukushima event
What were the long-term responses to the Japan (2011) earthquake/tsnuami
- NGOs set up programmes e.g. supporting health and upbringing of children in Fukushima
- Bank of Japan offered 185 million dollars to other banks so they could keep operating
- Government put 25.2 trillion into a 5-year intensive period of building
What were the planning and preparations made before the China (Sichuan 2008 earthquake)
- Very few earthquake proof buildings. Poorly built schools.
- Lack of education and emergency kits.
- Corrupt government officials often ignored building codes and accepted bribes to allow builders to take shortcuts.
What were the short term responses to the China (Sichuan 2008 earthquake)
- International assistance requested. Red Cross Society of China distributed 150,000 tents, also lots of quilts and clothing.
- Within hours, 130,000 soldiers (80,000) and relief workers were sent to affected areas.
What were the short term responses to the China (Sichuan 2008 earthquake)
- International assistance requested. Red Cross Society of China distributed 150,000 tents, also lots of quilts and clothing.
- Within hours, 130,000 soldiers (80,000) and relief workers were sent to affected areas.
what caused such high deaths in China (Sichuan 2008 earthquake)
- The earthquake triggered landslides that led to a quarter of the earthquake-related deaths
What was magaged signficantly and where in the China ((Sichuan 2008 Earthquake)
- Economic losses in China were high, reflecting its development progress since 1990, as it destroyed formal homes, businesses and infrastructure.
- The earthquake’s location meant the damage was concentrated to rural areas not densely populated cities.
How did the government respond to the China (Sichuan 2008 earthquake)
- The immediate response was rapid because the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games were only months away, so the Communist government mobilised the army and other responders rapidly
- China’s government are studying how to improve disaster prevention for the future
- Government allocated 95 billion to the relief fund
- Government officials arrested
What was the foreign aid given to China in the Sichuan crisis
- Domestic and foreign aid reached over ·55 billion in money and materials.
Before the disaster (planning and preparations made) - Haiti
…% of the population lives below the poverty line
80%
Before the disaster (planning and preparations made) - Haiti
How did Haiti’s history effect planning
- Haiti owes France, US and Germany millions of dollars, therefore the government uses much of its money to pay back this debt rather than on the country’s development.
- Decades of corrupt, ineffective and brutal governance left Haitian people hugely vulnerable because of slum housing, ineffectual water supply and endemic poverty
Before the disaster (planning and preparations made) - Haiti
….% of buildings were designed with earthquakes in mind.
0%
During the disaster (short term responses/impacts) - Haiti
How was the countries leadership handled
- Government officials died so IGOs gave emergency services
- Confusion over who was in charge, complicating relief work and aid refused due to corruption
During the disaster (short term responses/impacts) - Haiti
What was the social impact of the aid that came in
- Peacekeepers from Nepal who came to help with recovery may have caused a cholera epidemic
- killed more than 10,000 people and infected more than 800,000
After the disaster (long term responses) - Haiti
By 2015 ………… people still living in ………….. …………
- 80,000
- temporary housing camps
After the disaster (long term responses) - Haiti
How has QofL improved since
- New water supplies set up in 6 rural locations.
- New buildings, roads and schools have been built and health statistics have improved.
