Tectonic Hazards » Case Study - Earthquake Example

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

Understand what causes earthquakes and their key characteristics
Examine the 2010 Haiti earthquake as a detailed case study
Compare primary and secondary effects of earthquakes
Evaluate immediate and long-term responses to earthquake disasters
Analyse why earthquake impacts vary between countries of different development levels

Understanding Earthquakes

Earthquakes are sudden, violent shaking of the ground caused by movement of tectonic plates. They can cause devastating damage in seconds, affecting millions of people worldwide each year.

Key Definitions:

Earthquake: A sudden, violent shaking of the ground caused by movement along fault lines or volcanic activity.
Epicentre: The point on the Earth's surface directly above where the earthquake originated.
Focus: The actual point underground where the earthquake begins.
Magnitude: The measure of energy released by an earthquake (Richter scale).
Aftershock: Smaller earthquakes that follow the main earthquake.

🌎 Plate Tectonics and Earthquakes

Most earthquakes occur at plate boundaries where tectonic plates interact. There are three main types of boundaries where earthquakes commonly occur:

Convergent boundaries: Where plates push together, causing deep earthquakes
Divergent boundaries: Where plates pull apart, causing shallow earthquakes
Transform boundaries: Where plates slide past each other, causing shallow but powerful earthquakes

📊 Measuring Earthquakes

Scientists use two main scales to measure earthquakes:

Richter Scale: Measures the magnitude (energy released) on a logarithmic scale. Each whole number increase represents 10 times more ground motion and about 32 times more energy.
Mercalli Scale: Measures the intensity (observed effects) from I (not felt) to XII (total destruction).

Case Study: 2010 Haiti Earthquake

The Haiti earthquake is an excellent case study of a devastating earthquake in a lower-income country (LIC) with limited preparation and resources to respond.

Haiti Earthquake: Key Facts

Date: 12 January 2010
Time: 16:53 local time
Magnitude: 7.0 on the Richter scale
Depth: Very shallow (13 km)
Epicentre: 25 km west of Port-au-Prince (capital city)
Tectonic setting: Transform boundary between North American and Caribbean plates
Context: Haiti was the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere before the earthquake

Primary Effects of the Haiti Earthquake

Primary effects are the immediate results of the earthquake itself:

Over 220,000 people killed
300,000+ injured
1.3 million people made homeless
250,000+ homes destroyed or damaged
60% of government buildings collapsed including the Presidential Palace
Main port severely damaged
Roads blocked by debris and cracks
80% of schools in Port-au-Prince destroyed

Secondary Effects of the Haiti Earthquake

Secondary effects happen as a result of the primary effects:

🏥 Infrastructure

Power supplies cut off for weeks

Water systems contaminated

Communications networks failed

Transport networks damaged, hampering aid delivery

😷 Health

Cholera outbreak killed 8,000+ people

Hospitals overwhelmed or destroyed

Medical supplies quickly ran out

Unsanitary conditions in temporary camps

💰 Economic

Estimated $7.8 billion in damage

120% of Haiti's annual GDP

Tourism industry collapsed

Unemployment soared to over 40%

Immediate Responses

The immediate responses focused on search and rescue, providing emergency aid and treating the injured:

International search and rescue teams arrived within 24-48 hours
Field hospitals were set up to treat the injured
UN provided emergency food, water and shelter
US military secured the airport and port to facilitate aid delivery
Temporary shelters (tents) provided for 1.5 million homeless people
Governments and individuals worldwide donated $13 billion in aid
Emergency water purification systems deployed to prevent disease

Long-term Responses

Long-term responses aimed to rebuild and improve Haiti's resilience:

Rebuilding of critical infrastructure including the airport, port and main roads
Construction of 200,000+ temporary shelters
Implementation of better building codes for earthquake resistance
Training programmes for construction workers on safer building techniques
Cash-for-work programmes to clear rubble and stimulate the economy
Vaccination programmes to prevent disease outbreaks
Educational programmes about earthquake preparedness

Why Were the Impacts So Severe?

Several factors made the Haiti earthquake particularly devastating:

🚧 Physical Factors

Shallow focus: The earthquake occurred just 13km below the surface, meaning more energy reached the surface
High magnitude: At 7.0, this was a very powerful earthquake
Location: The epicentre was near the densely populated capital city
Time of day: It struck in the afternoon when many people were indoors
Geology: Soft sediments amplified the shaking

🏢 Human Factors

Poverty: Haiti was already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere
Poor building standards: Many buildings had no earthquake-resistant features
High population density: Overcrowded urban areas increased casualties
Limited infrastructure: Poor roads, communications and healthcare systems
Weak governance: Limited capacity to enforce building codes or coordinate responses
No earthquake preparation: No early warning systems or public education

Comparing with an HIC Earthquake: Japan 2011

To understand how development affects earthquake impacts, we can compare Haiti with the 2011 Japan earthquake:

Japan vs Haiti: Different Impacts

Factor	Haiti (LIC)	Japan (HIC)
Magnitude	7.0	9.0 (500 times more powerful)
Deaths	220,000+	15,897 (mostly from tsunami)
Building collapse	Widespread	Limited (earthquake-resistant design)
Warning systems	None	Advanced early warning system
Emergency response	Slow, relied on international aid	Rapid, well-coordinated national response
Recovery time	Still ongoing after 10+ years	Major infrastructure restored within months

Key Lessons from the Haiti Earthquake

The Haiti earthquake highlights several important lessons for earthquake management:

Building codes and enforcement are critical for reducing casualties
Economic development affects vulnerability and recovery capacity
Preparation and education save lives
Immediate international response is vital for LICs
Long-term recovery requires sustained support and local involvement
"Building back better" should be a priority to reduce future vulnerability

Exam Tip

✏ Using this Case Study in Exams

When writing about the Haiti earthquake in your exam:

Always include specific facts and figures (dates, magnitude, death toll)
Clearly distinguish between primary and secondary effects
Compare immediate and long-term responses
Explain why the impacts were so severe (physical and human factors)
If possible, make comparisons with earthquakes in more developed countries
Consider both successful and unsuccessful aspects of the response

🧠 Test Your Knowledge!