Response to Earthquakes (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

Short-term Response & Relief

• The emergency response are the actions taken immediately after a hazard event such as an earthquake:

  • Searching collapsed buildings to rescue people who are trapped

  • Providing medical assistance

  • Distribution of food and water

  • Ensuring that people have shelter

  • Clearing rubble and other debris

• This response has to be coordinated as many NGOs and government organisations, including the armed forces, may be involved

Case Studies: Nepal & Japan

Nepal  - A Developing Country

• Short-term response criticised for being too slow:

  • The epicentre was not reached by rescue workers for 24 hours

  • Evacuations of the critically wounded took 5 days

• Over US$1 billion in international aid from India and China 

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided a US$3 million grant for immediate relief efforts

• Three Chinook helicopters; 100 search and rescue; medical workers 

• Use of GIS to coordinate the response

• Many NGOs sent aid workers, food, water and medical supplies

• Tent cities in Kathmandu provided shelter for people made homeless

• Nepalese army sent to worst-hit areas

• Inflatable field hospitals set up to treat the injured

Japan - A Developed Country

• Self Defence Forces sent in immediately to organise food, water, shelter and medicines

• Within 48 hours a member of parliament was designated to coordinate the relief effort

• UK sent search and rescue teams 

• NGOs provided shelter, food, water and medical aid

• A state of emergency was declared at the Fukushima nuclear power plant

• Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued warnings just before the more damaging S waves - this gave people a chance to get out of buildings

• A tsunami warning was issued giving people 20 minutes to get to safety 

• Trained emergency crews and the army were on-site rapidly

• Temporary shelters were set up in schools and other public buildings