Nepal Earthquake

Nepal Earthquake

1. effects

   • there were a large number of after shocks
   • chunks of rock broke off mountains, destroying mountainside farms and villages (inc. anything below)
   • the earthquake shook the ground, destroying building, roads and bridges
     • many people went homeless
   • there was a substantial loss in money
     • buildings needed to be repared
     • people needed food and medical supplies
   • Nepal lost much of its medical care to treat the injured
   • lots of people were stuck under buildings (and needed to be saved) or in remote areas (near the mountains) and found it difficult to get help
   • fuel supplies (such as energy and food) were destroyed and lost
     • people went hungry and cold

2. responses

   • non-governmental organiations (aka charities or NGOs) were created to help and support people in situations like these
     • people around the world donated money through charities
     • they came to aid Nepal and its people
   • India provided Nepal with emergency aid quickly, they gave:
     • 10 tonnes of blankets
     • 50 tonnes of wter
     • doctors and 2 tonnes of medical supplies
     • an engineering task force
     • 22 tonnes of food
   • it was hard to get aid because the airport was shut and most roads were unusable
   • 'Cash for work' projects were set up - survivors were paid to rebuild places in their commuities

3. key facts

   • Nepal is on a collision boundary
   • Nepal is a mountainous country
   • population is 30 million
     • 81.4% live in rural areas
     • 25.2% are below the poverty line
   • 8,365 people were killed during the earthquake
     • 19,009 people were injured
   • $10 billion of damage was caused
     • 180 buildings were reduced to rubble in Kathmandu
   • aftershocks threatened to destroy already weakened villages/buildings
   • thousands of people went homeless
   • April 2015

4. causes

   • on a collision boundary
     • they tend to be more destructive and explosive
   • the Indian and Eurasian plates push together
     • they build up enormous amounts of pressure
     • the plate suddenly moved and around a century of strain and pressure was released
   • the focus of the earthquake was 15km below the Earth's surface
     • so the ground shook a lot becaue the focus was so shallow
   • the crust moved 3 metres in some places