Case Study: Earthquakes (SL IB Geography)

• Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of under $1000 in 2015
• Located between China and India, Nepal is a landlocked country
• In 2015, 80% of the population lived in rural, often remote, communities
• In April 2015 at 11.26 a.m., Nepal was struck by an earthquake of magnitude 7.8
• The epicentre was 80km northwest of Kathmandu in the Gorka district
• The focus was shallow at only 15km beneath the surface
• Over 300 aftershocks followed the main earthquake

Location of the Nepal earthquake

Location of the Nepal earthquake

Cause 

• Nepal is located on a collision boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates

Effects

• Approximately 9000 deaths 
• Over 20,000 people injured
• Electricity and water supplies cut
• 7000 schools and 1000 health facilities damaged or destroyed
• Almost 3.5 million people made homeless
• Offices, shops and factories destroyed, meaning people unable to make a living
• UNESCO world heritage sites destroyed, as well as many temples
• A loss of tourist income, which Nepal is reliant on
• Avalanches on Mount Everest and in the Langtang Valley
• Landslides, which blocked roads and rivers
• Damages estimated at between $7 and $10 billion; about 35% of the GDP

Immediate responses

• There were donations of money and aid from around the world totalling $3 billion, including $3.3 million from China and $51 million from the UK 
• Many countries sent aid in the form of:
  • Temporary shelters
  • Medicines
  • Food
  • Water
  • Clothing
  • Search and rescue teams
  • Medical staff
• 90% of the Nepalese army were mobilised 
• Tent cities were set up in Kathmandu for those made homeless
• A GIS crisis-mapping tool was used to co-ordinate the response
• A $3 million grant was provided by the Asian Development Bank for emergency relief

Long-term responses

• Landslides were cleared and roads repaired to restore access to remote rural communities
• Schools were rebuilt
• Earthquake drills were introduced to provide people with education about what to do in the event of an earthquake
• Stricter building codes were introduced with more enforcement
• $200 million was provided by the Asian Development Bank for rebuilding
• A new government task force was set up to plan for future earthquake events 

Factors affecting vulnerability

• Vulnerability is higher in Nepal due to a range of factors:
  • Many people affected live in remote, rural areas, which means:
    • Communication and education about the risks of earthquakes are limited
    • In the event of a hazard these areas are difficult to reach 
  • The city of Kathmandu is densely populated, so more people are affected
  • There were building codes but these were not always enforced or followed:
    • Buildings are often built using low-quality materials and are usually not earthquake-resistant
  • Nepal is a mountainous area, which increases the risk of landslides and avalanches
  • There is a lack of education regarding the risks of earthquakes 

• New Zealand is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with a Gross Domestic Product of US$40,058 in 2016
• It is located to the south-east of Australia
• On 14th November 2016, it was struck by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake
• The epicentre was 15km north-east of Culverden and 60km south-west of Kaikōura
• The focus was shallow, only 15km below the surface
• By the 17th November, there had been over 2000 aftershocks

Location of the New Zealand earthquake

Location of the New Zealand earthquake

Cause

• New Zealand is located on a destructive boundary between the Indian-Australian and Pacific plates

Effects

• Two deaths 
• Over 50 people injured
• Temporary homelessness of 60 people
• Over 2000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, including some in the capital city, Wellington
• Power, water and telecommunication cut off to Kaikōura and surrounding communities
• Approximately 11,000 landslides:
  
  • Destruction of 390km of road and railway
  • Kaikōura and surrounding communities were completely cut off for 16 days
• Uplift of the coastline by 5.5 metres in some areas:
  • Kaikōura's harbour was affected by the uplift, meaning boats could not leave or enter the harbour
  • Disruption of the coastal breeding areas for dolphins, seals and sea birds
• A tsunami followed the earthquake, reaching up to 6.9 metres in Goose Bay
• Insurance costs reached $2.27 billion
• The cost to the government reached almost $3.5 billion

Immediate responses

• National Crisis Management Centre activated 
• Tsunami warnings were issued for coastal areas via sirens, texts and social media
• Local states of emergency declared
• Helicopters and ships provided emergency supplies and evacuated vulnerable people 
• Search and rescue teams dispatched 

Long-term responses

• Improvements to the tsunami warning procedure 
• Road routes were repaired between one month and one year after the event
• The main rail route reopened after two months but full repair took over a year
• Improvements to the building regulations made to assess existing buildings for earthquake resistance
• Kaikōura's harbour was rebuilt; taking over a year to complete

Factors affecting vulnerability

• The vulnerability of the population is reduced due to a range of factors, including:
  • Planning and preparation for earthquake events
  • Education about what to do during and after an earthquake event
  • Emergency services are well-trained and equipped
  • People at risk were rapidly evacuated from the affected areas
  • Building quality and materials are of a high standard, reducing the risk of collapse
  • As a HIC, New Zealand can afford the repairs and rebuilding, reducing recovery time
  • A tsunami warning system gives people time to evacuate from areas at risk