Case Studies, Edexcel Geography, A2

• Date:Sunday 26th December 2004
• Location: Indian Ocean, North Indonesia
• Epicentre Close to Aceh, North Indonesia
• Strength: 9.1 on Richter scale
• Plates: Fault line of Indian and Eurasian plate, collision boundary
• Key facts: Water displaced by 1om created a tsunami, waves travelled at nearly 500mph
• Impacts: Worst Tsunami in 40 years
• Responses: Massive international response of $12 billion pledged. $190 million raised by people in the effected countries. A lot of donations due to it was on such a large scale.
• References: USGS, bbc news website, www.alnap.org. 

Social Effects:

• 275,000 across 14 countries were killed.
• 141000 homes destroyed 
• Indonesia was the worst affected area

Economic impacts:

• US$ 9.9 billion lost in damage > there was a 5 year recovery time
• 66% of Sri Lanka's fishing industry wiped out
• Affected tourism 

Environmental impacts:

• 17 atolls destroyed in the Maldives 
• Severe damage to coral reefs and coastal ecosystems 
• Pollution of drinking water 

• Date: Friday 11th March 2011
• Location: Japan
• Epicentre: 130km east of Sendai 
• Strength: 9.0 on Richter scale
• Plates: Pacific plate subducting under the Eurasian plate 
• Key facts: Energy produced by earthquake equivalent to energy output of the UK
• Impacts: Japan was preparing for initial earthquake, but following tsunami caused problems, warning issued 3 minutes after earthquake
• Responses: 91 countries offered aid randing from blankets to military assistance, charities such as Red Cross and Save The Children asked for donations. 59 rescues teams arrived in Japan
• References: USGS, Guardian, BBC news website, UNEP.com 

Social impacts:

• 18,000 people died
• 452,000 left homeless, 1.2 million homes without electricity 
• 483 roads cut off

Economic impacts:

• Value of the Yen fell sharpley afterwards
• Clean up operation estimated to cost £145 Billion (4% of GDP)
• Take 5 years to fully recover

Environmental impacts:

• Huge amount of debris 
• Risk of radioactive contamination 
• Pollution of water supplies 

• Date:January 17th 1995
• Location: Japan
• Epicentre: 40 miles away from Kobe
• Strength: 7.2
• Plates: Philippines plate and Eurasion place
• Key facts: One of the most expensive disasters in history
• Responses: More than 300,000 people were moved into emergency shelters,food was scarce. People fought over noodles, the military wasn't issued until 9 hours after the quake. Government donated $450 million to people affected, government subsidised 90% of rapairs
• References: USGS, BBC news webside, Georesources.com 

Social Impacts:

• 5502 people confirmed dead, 80% of these being from being crushed
• 37,000 people injured
• Over 200,000 buildings damaged or destroyed

Economic impacts:

• Caused $132 billion in damage 
• Only $3 billion was covered by insurance
• Kobe's port was badly damaged.

Environmental impacts:

• Numerous fires, gas and water main breaks
• The fault shifted 6-10 feet in opposite directions 

• Date:12th January 2010
• Location: Haiti,
• Epicentre: 16km SW of Port-Au-Prince
• Strength: 7.0
• Plates: North American plate and Caribbean plate
• Key facts: predicted 2 years prior by Professor Paul Mann, Shallow depth of the earthquake amplified it, meaning more impacts
• Responses: A corrupt government made it hard to make plans of action, Initially response was slow to date, NGO's have raised over £380 million, 53 USAR teams went out to help rescue over 200 people
• References: Hairi's killer earthquake documentary channel 4, www.dec.org.uk/haiti, www.alnap.org 

Social Impacts:

• Affected 3 million people, approximately 230,000 people died
• 60% of government buildings destroyed
• 1 in 3 nuildings collapesed, due to lack of proper steel supports.

Economic impacts:

• Poorest nation in the western hemisphere 
• 7-% of habitants live on less than $2 a day

Environmental 

• 19 million cubic meters of rubble and debris in Port au Prince 

• Date:1995-1997
• Location: Soufriere hills, Monseratte 
• Plates: North American plate subducting under caribbean plate 
• Key facts: Dormant for nearly 400 years
• Impacts:small eruption 
• Responses: £41 million was given in aid by the british government, the MVO was set up to study the volcano and provide warnings for the future 
• References: BBC news, A2 geography textbook 

Social impacts:

• 23 people died, 50% of the population were evacuated to the north of the island
• Abandonment of major cities 
• Partial evacuation, 120000 people emigrated to other countries, one of with the UK

Economic impacts:

• Revieved humanitarian ain, UK provided £10 million in aid
• Rioting broke out
• Tourist industry is still suffering with dew visitors

Environmental impacts:

• Farmland destroyed
• Forest fires caused by pyroclastic flows
• As most of the southern area was destroyed any remaining inhabitants had to endure harsh living conditions in the North.