Natural Hazards Case Study: HIC vs LIC: LIC

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Location: Kashmir, Pakistan

Date: 8th October 2005

Size: 7.6 Magnitude

Primary Effects:

Around 80,000 deaths

Tens of Thousands of people injured

Hundreds of Thousands of building damaged or destroyed

Around 3 million left homeless

Water and electricity lines cut off supplies

Secondary Effects:

Landslides buried buildings and people. Also they blocked access to roads, cut off water, electricity and telephone lines

Diarrhea and other diseases spread due to little sanitation

Freezing winter conditions shortly after the tremors caused more casualties and meant rescue was difficult

Immediate Responses:

International aid and equipment, EG helicopters and rescue dogs, as well as aid workers from across the globe

Despite this some areas didn't receive help for days or weeks so they had to be rescued by hand

Tents, blankets and medical supplies were distributed, although it took a month to reach some areas

Long-Term Responses:

40,000 people from one town have been relocated to a new settlement

Aid was given to rebuild schools and government money used to rebuild peoples homes

However, some people used the money for food and after 3 years thousands were still living in temporary shelters and after 10 years some schools were not rebuilt and they were being taught outside