Tectonic Hazards: Additional Detailed Specific Examples (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Geography): Revision Note

Detailed specific example - Nepal earthquake

• Nepal is an Low Income Country (LIC) with a GDP of under $1000 

• Located between China and India, Nepal is a landlocked country

• In 2015, 80% of the population lived in rural, often remote, communities

• In April 2015 at 11.26 am Nepal was struck by an earthquake, magnitude 7.8

• The epicentre was 80 km northwest of Kathmandu in the Gorka district

• The focus was shallow at only 15 km beneath the surface

• Over 300 aftershocks followed the main earthquake

Nepal Earthquake Map

Cause 

• Nepal is located on a collision boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates

• As the plates move towards each other they get stuck

• Pressure builds as the plates continue to move

• Eventually the plates jolt free

• The energy which has built up is released as seismic waves which move through the Earth's crust

Effects

• Approximately 9000 deaths 

• Over 20,000 people injured

• Electricity and water supplies cut

• 7000 schools and 1000 health facilities were damaged or destroyed

• Almost 3.5 million people were made homeless

• Offices, shops and factories were destroyed meaning people were unable to make a living

• UNESCO world heritage sites destroyed as well as many temples

• Loss of tourist income which Nepal is reliant on

• Avalanches on Mount Everest and in the Langtang Valley

• Landslides which blocked roads and rivers

• Damages estimated at between $7 and $10 billion about 35% of the GDP

Immediate responses

• Donations of money and aid from around the world totally $3 billion including $3.3 million from China and $51 million from the UK 

• Many countries sent aid in the form of:

  • Temporary shelters

  • Medicines

  • Food

  • Water

  • Clothing

  • Search and rescue teams

  • Medical staff

• 90% of the Nepalese army were mobilised 

• Tent cities were set up in Kathmandu for those made homeless

• GIS crisis mapping tool was used to co-ordinate the response

• $3 million grant was provided by the Asian Development Bank for emergency relief

Long term response

• Landslides were cleared and roads repaired to restore access to remote rural communities

• Schools were rebuilt

• Earthquake drills were introduced to provide people with education about what to do in the event of an earthquake

• Stricter building codes with more enforcement

• $200 million was provided by the Asian Development Bank for rebuilding

• A new government task force was set up to plan for future earthquake events 

Detailed specific example - Mount Merapi

• Indonesia is a Middle Income Country (MIC)

• It is estimated there are 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia

• Mount Merapi is located on Java

  • Java is the most densely populated island in Indonesia

  • It has a population of over 157 million people

Eruption, 25th October 2010

• The eruption of Mount Merapi occurred on the 25th October 2010 and lasted over a month, ending 30th November 2010

• The eruption was classified as VEI 4 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index

Cause

• The volcano is situated on a destructive plate boundary

  • The Indo-Australian Plate subducts beneath the Eurasian Plate

• This tectonic activity leads to the formation of stratovolcanoes (composite cones) like Mount Merapi

Impacts of the Mount Merapi eruption

• An estimated 353 deaths caused by pyroclastic flows, falling ash, and lava

• Over 350,000 people were evacuated from the area surrounding the volcano

• More than 19,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.

• Key transport links were affected when 30 bridges were damaged

• Agricultural land and livestock were destroyed – leading to food shortages and increased prices

• Ash and gas emissions caused respiratory illnesses and damaged air quality

• Over 200 hectares of forest and ecosystem areas were affected

• Tourism fell by 30% domestically and 70% internationally after the eruption

• Mental health impacts affected nearly 50% of the population in the affected zone

• Economic losses were estimated to reach £450 million

• Ash in the atmosphere led to the closure of airports and the cancellation of 2500 flights

Responses to the Mount Merapi eruption

Immediate responses

• Evacuation of more than 350,000 residents to over 200 temporary shelters.

• Emergency services and the military provided food, water, and medical assistance.

• Indonesian Red Cross distributed emergency relief like blankets, face masks, and food.

• Flights were cancelled and air traffic was suspended briefly due to ash clouds.

• The alert level was raised to red and areas were cordoned off

Long-term responses

• The government built 16,000 new houses to replace those destroyed

• Major repairs to damaged roads, schools, and infrastructure

• A new volcano monitoring centre was established to enhance future prediction

• Development of an early warning system and improved evacuation planning

• Tourism campaigns launched to support economic recovery

Strategies to reduce the impact of future eruptions

• Hazard mapping and risk zoning to restrict building in danger zones

• Strengthening of building codes for resilience against ash and tremors

• Installation of tiltmeters, GPS, seismometers, and gas sensors to improve eruption prediction

• Public education campaigns and volcano evacuation drills

• Government funding for rebuilding livelihoods, especially for affected farmers and tour operators

• International aid and collaboration with scientific bodies to improve disaster preparedness