tectonics

Question 1

🇭🇹 Haiti 2010 Earthquake – LIC disaster

Answer 1

Magnitude 7.0, shallow focus (13km), epicentre near Port-au-Prince.

Over 230,000 deaths, 1.5M homeless.

Weak infrastructure, poor emergency response.

Cholera outbreak post-quake.

International aid slow & mismanaged.

Illustrates high vulnerability in LICs.

Question 2

🇯🇵 Japan 2011 Earthquake & Tsunami – HIC disaster

Answer 2

Magnitude 9.0, undersea megathrust quake off Tōhoku coast.

15,000+ deaths, tsunami over 10m high.

Fukushima nuclear meltdown – major secondary hazard.

$235B in damages (costliest disaster ever).

Strong governance, strict building codes saved lives.

Showcases multiple hazard zones & compound risks.

Question 3

🌋 Eyjafjallajökull 2010 – Volcanic ash impact

Answer 3

VEI 4 eruption, small in scale but high global impact.

Ash cloud disrupted 100,000 flights, affected 10M passengers.

Cost airlines over $1.7 billion.

Showed how global systems (air travel, economy) are vulnerable.

Minimal deaths due to strong Icelandic preparedness.

Question 4

🇳🇵 Nepal 2015 Earthquake – Developing country

Answer 4

Magnitude 7.8, shallow focus, occurred near Kathmandu.

~9,000 deaths, over 600,000 buildings damaged.

Remote terrain hindered aid.

Cultural sites destroyed (UNESCO).

International aid & remittances crucial in recovery.

Question 5

🌋 Mount Merapi 2010 – Stratovolcano eruption

Answer 5

VEI 4 eruption, pyroclastic flows killed ~350 people.

Over 350,000 evacuated.

Heavy ash fall, lahars blocked roads.

Shows Indonesia’s exposure to multiple tectonic hazards.

Government used zonation & evacuation shelters

Question 6

🇨🇳 Sichuan 2008 Earthquake – Emerging country response

Answer 6

Magnitude 7.9, ~90,000 deaths.

Schools collapsed due to poor building quality.

Government mobilised army quickly.

Public donations raised $1B+.

Reconstruction included better infrastructure standards.

Question 7

🌊 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami – Multi-country impact

Answer 7

Magnitude 9.1–9.3 quake near Sumatra triggered massive tsunami.

230,000+ deaths in 14 countries (worst hit: Indonesia, Sri Lanka).

Lack of warning system in Indian Ocean.

Massive global aid response ($14B+).

Led to establishment of Indian Ocean tsunami warning system.

Question 8

🇵🇭 Philippines – Tectonic multi-hazard hotspot

Answer 8

On Pacific Ring of Fire, frequent earthquakes & volcanic eruptions.

20+ typhoons/year and flooding.

Urban poverty, population growth increase vulnerability.

Example: Mount Pinatubo 1991 + Typhoon Haiyan 2013.

Needs integrated risk management (DRR, education, aid).

Question 9

📈 Park Response Model – Haiti vs Japan

Answer 9

Haiti: slow relief, long recovery phase, poor resilience.

Japan: rapid relief, quick reconstruction, high resilience.

Shows difference in capacity to cope based on economic development.

Question 10

🛡️ Hazard mitigation – Japan vs Nepal

Answer 10

Japan: early warning systems, drills, earthquake-proof buildings, strict codes.

Nepal: fewer resources, poor building regulations, reliant on aid.

Shows how governance and development influence mitigation success.