Natural Hazard Case Study: HIC vs LIC: HIC

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Location: L'Aquila, Italy

Date: 6th April 2009

Size: 6.3 magnitude

Primary Effects:

Around 300 deaths from collapsed buildings

1500 injuries

Tens of Thousands of buildings damaged or destroyed

Over 60,000 made homless

A bridge and a water pipe broken

Secondary Effects:

Aftershocks hampered rescue efforts and caused more damage

Fires in collapsed building meaning more damage

The broken water pipe caused a landslide

Electricity and phone services were interrupted

Immediate Responses:

Camps were set up fr people who were made homeless

Ambulances, fire engines and the army were sent to aid rescue

Cranes and heavy machinery used to remove rubble

Free mobile phones and SIM cards were provided fro people who lost their homes

Money was provided by the government to pay rent and gas and electricity bills were suspended

Long-Term Responses:

New settlements ere built for over 20,000 residents who lived in the damaged city centre

Most of the city was rebuilt

Investigations to find out why structure weren't built to withstand the earthquakes