geography case studies

CAUSES:

• built up pressure, released by an earthquake
• lahars caused by melting of ice cap, Armero in valley = route for Lahars
• destructive margin - Nazca (oceanic) subducted under SA (continental)

EFFECTS:

• Lahar in Chinchina killed 1927 people
• 5000 injured
• 5000 homes destroyed
• 23000 dead
• 40m thick lahars, 50km/h = blocked roads
• cost 7.7 billion (20% gdp)

RESPONSE:

• international aid from 30 foreign countries within 24 hours
• long term, made a hazard map and evacuation plan (markers on buildings)
• education in schools

CAUSES:

• destructive margin - African (oceanic) and Eurasian(continental) plates

EFFECTS:

• catania airport shut for 4 days
• 3 ski lift pylons destroyed
• linguaglossa evacuated
• cost $8million
• 300 family businesses destroyed
• 100 homes in Santa Venerina destroyed

RESPONSE:

• army used bulldozers to crack tarmac to create channels for the lava
• emergency workers dug channels to divert lava from Linguaglossa
• tried to divert the lava from the scientific monitoring centre at foot of volcano
• govt gave tax breaks and spent $8million in financial assistance
• declared state of emergency by the Italian Government
• Medical clinic off Catania

CAUSES:

• Blind fault in the San Fernando Valley
• 19km focus
• 6.7 on richter scale
• 15000 aftershocks

EFFECTS:

• 57 killed
• 9000 injured
• buildings damaged eg Northridge Meadows apartment building (wooden structure)
• landslides in the Pacific Palisades area
• Trailer homes fire in San Fernando Valley
• Liquefaction in San Fernando Valley
• Scoreboard collapsed in Anaheim Stadium

RESPONSE:

• Federal Disaster, FEMA deployed, 600,000 individuals applied for financial assistance