1
Geography GSCE Tectonic hazards
Chile and Nepal earthquakes Case study:
On this page you will find out about earthquakes effects on the 2 different countries: Chile and
Nepal.
Earthquakes can have a detrimental effect on people’s lives and activities. Primary effects of
earthquakes are:ground shaking, deaths, injuries,damages to the roads and
buildings/infrastucture.Secondary effects of an earthquake is tsunami, fires and landslides.
Indicator Chile Nepal UK
Gross Domestic 38th out of the 193 109th out of 193 6th out of the 193
Product(GDP)- this is countries countries countries
used to measure a
country wealth.
Human Development 41st out of 187 145th out of 187 14th out of 187
Index (HDI)- this countries countries countries
measures the level of
development of a
country
Chile
On 27th February 2010 a powerful earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale bashed the
coast of central Chile.
The earthquake occurred at a destructive plate margin where the Nazca Plate is moving
beneath the South American Plate.
It was followed by a series of smaller aftershocks
1
, 2
Nepal
On 25 April 2015 Nepal was struck by an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale. The
epicentre was about 80km (50 miles)to the north west of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu.
This is a destructive plate margin where the Indo-Australian plate is colliding with the
Eurasian Plate.
The earthquake was very shallow, just 15km below the surface
This resulted in very severe ground shaking and widespread landslides and avalanches
The earthquakes caused damages to hundreds of kilometres away in India, Tibet and
Pakistan.
2
Geography GSCE Tectonic hazards
Chile and Nepal earthquakes Case study:
On this page you will find out about earthquakes effects on the 2 different countries: Chile and
Nepal.
Earthquakes can have a detrimental effect on people’s lives and activities. Primary effects of
earthquakes are:ground shaking, deaths, injuries,damages to the roads and
buildings/infrastucture.Secondary effects of an earthquake is tsunami, fires and landslides.
Indicator Chile Nepal UK
Gross Domestic 38th out of the 193 109th out of 193 6th out of the 193
Product(GDP)- this is countries countries countries
used to measure a
country wealth.
Human Development 41st out of 187 145th out of 187 14th out of 187
Index (HDI)- this countries countries countries
measures the level of
development of a
country
Chile
On 27th February 2010 a powerful earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale bashed the
coast of central Chile.
The earthquake occurred at a destructive plate margin where the Nazca Plate is moving
beneath the South American Plate.
It was followed by a series of smaller aftershocks
1
, 2
Nepal
On 25 April 2015 Nepal was struck by an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale. The
epicentre was about 80km (50 miles)to the north west of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu.
This is a destructive plate margin where the Indo-Australian plate is colliding with the
Eurasian Plate.
The earthquake was very shallow, just 15km below the surface
This resulted in very severe ground shaking and widespread landslides and avalanches
The earthquakes caused damages to hundreds of kilometres away in India, Tibet and
Pakistan.
2
