Case Study: Earthquakes (DP 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

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

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

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

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 

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

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

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

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 

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

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