Earthquake in an LEDC: Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Background

- When: 12^th January 2010

- Where: Haiti, west of the island Hispaniola, Caribbean

- Epicentre: 25km from Port-au-Prince

- Depth of focus: 10km

- Magnitude: 7.0

Causes

- Conservative (N American west, Caribbean east by 2.2cm/year)

- Plates jammed for 200 years

Primary Hazards

- Ground shaking

- Ground rolled up + down

Secondary Hazards

- Aftershocks

- Liquefaction

- Landslides

- Tsunami: 12cm (mini)

Warning Signs

- 2008: scientists discovered plates were jammed, predicted there would be an earthquake soon

Monitoring

- Seismometers by US

Management of threat

- Buildings NOT earthquake proof

- 3 million in Port-au-Prince due to urbanisation

- Seismic monitoring stations NOT installed: NO MONEY

- DID NOTHING

Social Impacts

- 230,000 killed

- 300,00 injured

…