geography paper 1 case studies

what were the causes of Tohoku earthquake (Japan 2011)

• pacific plate subducting under North American plate

• 9.0 magnitude

• triggered a 10 m tsunami

what were the primary effects of Tohoku earthquake

• 20,000 dead

• 6000 injured

• buildings and railways destroyed

• Fukushima nuclear power plant damaged- radiation leak

secondary effects of Tohoku earthquake

• fires and flooding from tsunami

• economic loss: $235 million

• disruption of electricity, transport

what were the immediate response to Tohoku earthquake

• emergency shelter

• evacuation from Fukushima

• medical aid and temporary housing

what were the long term responses of Tohoku earthquake

• recovery of nuclear plant safety system

• rebuilding houses and roads

• stricter building codes and tsunami defences

what were the causes of Haiti earthquake?

• Transform plate boundary (North American Plate sliding past Caribbean Plate)

• Magnitude 7.0

• Shallow focus (~13 km) → strong shaking

what are the primary effects of Haiti earthquake?

• ~105,000 homes destroyed; 190,000 damaged; hospitals, schools, government buildings collapsed

• ~316,000 dead; 300,000+ injured

• ~1.5 million people homeless

secondary effects of Haiti earthquake?

• Cholera outbreak due to poor sanitation

• ~$7.8 billion economic damage; slowed economy

• Increased crime, looting, social instability

what is the immediate response of Haiti earthquake

• International aid from UN, USA, and other countries

• Emergency rescue teams, temporary shelters set up

long term response of Haiti earthquake?

• Rebuilding homes and infrastructure (very slow)

• NGOs and international organizations helped with water, sanitation, and healthcare

• Lessons on disaster preparedness limited due to weak government systems