Earthquakes case studies

Earthquakes case studies

1. Chile

   • When 27th February 2019
   • Chile's GDP is 38th out of 193 (UK is 6th)
   • What? a 8.8 R earthquake just off the coast of central Chile
   • Where ?.Occurred at the destructive plate margin where the Nazca plate is being subducted by the less dense continental South American plate.
   • Tusnami warnings issued as earthquake occurred pout at sea. this warning saved lives Chile has access to these prediction monitors.
   • Primary effects ( What's caused by the ground shacking)
     • 500 people killed 1200 injured
     • lots of homes hospitals schools destroyed
     • Cost of earthquake estimated at 30 billion us dollars
     • Loss of power water and communications.
   • Secondary effects ( what's caused as a result of the primary effects)
     • 1500 km of roads destroyed therefore aid is hard to get in and remote communities were cut of for days
     • A Fire at a local Chemical plant meant area had to be evacuated
   • Immediate responses
     • Lots of international help to set up filed hospitals and floating bridges for aid to get in and out.
     • Repairs made to major road to allow for aid to be transported to more rural communities
     • 90% of power and water restored in 10 days
   • Secondary responses
     • Government launched housing reconstruction plan
     • Chile has a strong economy from copper exports so needed little international funding to rebuild and reconstruct damaged buildings
   • Chilie is a wealthier county than Nepal and has a strong stable government that are prepared for these events therefore it is able to recover faster and less lives are lost. they have a strong economy.

2. Nepal

   • GDP of 109 out of 193 countries
   • When? 25th April 2015
   • What? a earthquake measuring 7.9 R at a destructive margin between the Indo Australian and Eurasian plates. this is what formed the Hymilayas
   • Where? epicentre 80km from capital city Khatmandu
   • Primary effects
     • 9000 people dead 20000 injured.
     • 3 million left homeless, Most homes are squatter settlements or built out of basic materials and are destroyed very easily.
     • 1,4 million needed food water and shelter in the days and weeks after the earthquake
     • Cost of damage 5 million
     • sanitation electricity and water supplies affected. Disease spreads quickly
   • Secondary effects
     • Avalanches on mount Everest killed 19 people.
     • Landslides blocked roads hindering aid attempts
   • Immediate responses
     • Search and rescue teams deployed and water and medical support flown in from many international countries.
     • half a million tents for homless
   • Secondary responses
     • Roads cleared of debris after landslides
     • stricter controls on building codes and sharing of information to allow for sturdier buildings to be buillt