Earthquake case studies
Haiti- 12th January 2010
General background
Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere
Epicentre 15km from capital (Port-au-Prince), shallow
Magnitude 7
Social impacts
Over 220,000 deaths
300,000 injured
1.3 million made homeless
Levelled city of over 2 million –Port-au-Prince
Roads blocked by debris
Small local tsunamis killed 7 people
Outbreaks of cholera by November 2010
3 million people effected by the quake
Economic impacts
Port-au-Prince levelled- population of over 2 million
Port damaged
o Couldn’t be used to bring in supplies
o Main route off the island
Several hospitals collapsed
30,000 commercial buildings collapsed
Clothing industry manufacturing factories damaged (accounts for 1/3 of economy)-
estimated 1/5 people lost their job
Environmental impacts
North of the earthquake bulged upwards and south of the earthquake subsided
Political impacts
Weak government response
Unequal distribution of aid
Mitigation against vulnerability
Area monitored- scientists new a big event would come but could predict a time scale
Mitigation against losses
Aid slow due to the port being damaged
, USA sent rescue teams and 10,000 troops
Bottled water and purification tablets were provided
235,000 people were moved to less-damaged cities away from Port-au-Prince
The UK government donated £20 million
The EU gave $330 million and the World Bank waived the countries debt repayments for 5
years
Dominican Republic accepted some refugees
Houses rebuilt to a higher standard- very slow, over 1 million being still living in temporary
shelters one year after the quake
L’Aquila, Italy- 6th April 2009
, General background
Population of 73000
Area has lots of historic buildings
4.6 magnitude earthquake happened at midnight
Main 6.3 magnitude earthquake happened at 3.30 a.m.
Several days of aftershocks
Reasons why people live there
Social impacts
308 deaths
50000 left homeless
Town’s university hospital declared off limits- fear of collapse
o Doctors treated in the streets
o Urgent appeal for blood
Economic impacts
Between 10000 and 15000 buildings collapsed- even some of the reinforced ones
18000 out of work in the region
House prices and rents have increased in the area
o Fewer students study at the local university
Reduced amount of business and tourism
Environmental impacts
Aftershocks triggered landslides> more damage
Mitigation against vulnerability
Monitored and possibly predicted but not by a reliable method- radon gas emissions
Mitigation against losses
Within an hour the Italian Red Cross arrived to search for survivors, raised £171000 in
support
Roads and airspace closed to all but emergency vehicles
2000 tent camp with each tent holding 8 to 10 people and 4000 hotel beds
110000 people housed in 150 camps- not suitable for winter> cold
People badly affected given a tax break till January 2011 + multiple other services suspended
bills
184 earthquake buildings ordered
The EU granted US$ 552.9 million from its Solidarity Fund for major disasters to begin
rebuilding L’Aquila
Students were given free public transport, discounts on educational equipment and were
exempt from university fees for three years
Most of the town took 2 years to rebuild and the historic centre took 15 years to rebuild
Haiti- 12th January 2010
General background
Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere
Epicentre 15km from capital (Port-au-Prince), shallow
Magnitude 7
Social impacts
Over 220,000 deaths
300,000 injured
1.3 million made homeless
Levelled city of over 2 million –Port-au-Prince
Roads blocked by debris
Small local tsunamis killed 7 people
Outbreaks of cholera by November 2010
3 million people effected by the quake
Economic impacts
Port-au-Prince levelled- population of over 2 million
Port damaged
o Couldn’t be used to bring in supplies
o Main route off the island
Several hospitals collapsed
30,000 commercial buildings collapsed
Clothing industry manufacturing factories damaged (accounts for 1/3 of economy)-
estimated 1/5 people lost their job
Environmental impacts
North of the earthquake bulged upwards and south of the earthquake subsided
Political impacts
Weak government response
Unequal distribution of aid
Mitigation against vulnerability
Area monitored- scientists new a big event would come but could predict a time scale
Mitigation against losses
Aid slow due to the port being damaged
, USA sent rescue teams and 10,000 troops
Bottled water and purification tablets were provided
235,000 people were moved to less-damaged cities away from Port-au-Prince
The UK government donated £20 million
The EU gave $330 million and the World Bank waived the countries debt repayments for 5
years
Dominican Republic accepted some refugees
Houses rebuilt to a higher standard- very slow, over 1 million being still living in temporary
shelters one year after the quake
L’Aquila, Italy- 6th April 2009
, General background
Population of 73000
Area has lots of historic buildings
4.6 magnitude earthquake happened at midnight
Main 6.3 magnitude earthquake happened at 3.30 a.m.
Several days of aftershocks
Reasons why people live there
Social impacts
308 deaths
50000 left homeless
Town’s university hospital declared off limits- fear of collapse
o Doctors treated in the streets
o Urgent appeal for blood
Economic impacts
Between 10000 and 15000 buildings collapsed- even some of the reinforced ones
18000 out of work in the region
House prices and rents have increased in the area
o Fewer students study at the local university
Reduced amount of business and tourism
Environmental impacts
Aftershocks triggered landslides> more damage
Mitigation against vulnerability
Monitored and possibly predicted but not by a reliable method- radon gas emissions
Mitigation against losses
Within an hour the Italian Red Cross arrived to search for survivors, raised £171000 in
support
Roads and airspace closed to all but emergency vehicles
2000 tent camp with each tent holding 8 to 10 people and 4000 hotel beds
110000 people housed in 150 camps- not suitable for winter> cold
People badly affected given a tax break till January 2011 + multiple other services suspended
bills
184 earthquake buildings ordered
The EU granted US$ 552.9 million from its Solidarity Fund for major disasters to begin
rebuilding L’Aquila
Students were given free public transport, discounts on educational equipment and were
exempt from university fees for three years
Most of the town took 2 years to rebuild and the historic centre took 15 years to rebuild
