Reducing the Impact of Earthquakes & Volcanoes (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Geography)

Explain how new buildings can be earthquake-proofed so they are less likely to be damaged in an earthquake.

[4 Marks]

Answer

• Build deep/stronger/sturdier foundations/base [1]

• Reinforce/use concrete/bricks for buildings/walls/roofs [1]

• Use metal, steel, and aluminium beams [1]

• Use diagonal bracing [1]

• Flexible building materials [1]

• Use dampers/shock absorbers in the base of the building [1]

• Computers controlled weights/counterbalances on roof/weight on the roof [1]

• Automatic window shutters [1]

• Shatterproof/strong/reinforced glass [1]

• Use fire-resistant materials [1]

• Build low building/do not build high rise [1]

• Use automatic cut-off for gas pipes/electricity cables [1]

• Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of under $1000 

• Located between China and India, Nepal is a landlocked country

• In 2015, 80% of the population lived in rural, often remote, communities

Earthquake, April 2015

• In April 2015, at 11.26 am, Nepal was struck by an earthquake, magnitude 7.8

• The epicentre was 80 km northwest of Kathmandu in the Gorka district

• The focus was shallow at only 15 km beneath the surface

• Over 300 aftershocks followed the main 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 were damaged or destroyed

• Almost 3.5 million people were made homeless

• Offices, shops and factories were destroyed, meaning people were unable to make a living

• UNESCO World Heritage were sites destroyed as well as many temples

• 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

• Donations of money and aid from around the world totalled $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

• Approximately 90% of the Nepalese army was mobilised 

• Tent cities were set up in Kathmandu for those made homeless

• GIS crisis mapping tool was used to coordinate the response

• A $3 million grant was provided by the Asian Development Bank for emergency relief

Long-term response

• 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 with more enforcement

• About $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 

• Part of the Canary Islands, La Palma is located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North Africa

• The Canary Islands are an autonomous region of Spain

• There are 33 volcanoes across the Canary Islands, 10 of which are in La Palma

• La Palma has a population of 85,000

Eruption, September 2021

• The Cumbre Viejo volcano on La Palma began to erupt on September 19, 2021 and the eruption lasted for almost three months

• The eruption was VEI 2 to VEI 3

Cause

• La Palma and the other Canary Islands are located on the African plate

• The islands are an archipelago which has formed as the result of a hot spot

• This means that they are not located on a plate boundary but over a magma plume

Signs of eruption

• Deformation of the mountain indicated rising magma about a week before the eruption

• Between 10 and 19 September, there were over 25,000 earthquakes—an 'earthquake swarm' 

Effects

• Over 7,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes

• Almost 1,500 houses were destroyed by the lava flow

• Over 1,500 other buildings, such as churches, shops, and schools, were destroyed

• The lava flow cut across the coastal highway

• The water supply was cut off for almost 3,000 people

• 400 hectares of banana farms were destroyed

• Almost 1,300 hectares of land were effected

• 1 death

• About 20,000 people were exposed to the eruption and its effects

• Air traffic disruption

• €1 billion damages

Immediate response

• A warning was issued of an eruption on 13th September and 40 people and livestock were evacuated

• A further 1000 people were evacuated after the eruption began on the 19th September

• 5600 more people were evacuated over the next few weeks

• The alert level was raised to red

• Air traffic was briefly suspended

• Constant monitoring of lava flow and gas emissions to ensure the safety of the population

• Food and shelter were provided for those made homeless

• A €5.4 million advanced payment donated by the EU

Long-term response

• Spain promised €400 million to La Palma for rebuilding

• Prefabricated housing was built for those made homeless but six months on, many people were still living in hotels and with family and friends

• Constant monitoring of the volcano and others on La Palma

• Improved crisis management processes are now in place for future eruptions