Figure 1.10 SeismogramEarthquake Damage
Primary effects are due to the shaking and resulting damage to buildings and
infrastructure resulting in the loss of life or injury. Secondary effects include
rock slides, flooding due to subsidence (sinking) of land, liquefaction of recent
sediments (conversion of soil into a fluid-like mass), fires, and tsunamis.
Damage due to earthquakes can be reduced by: ■ Mapping faults ■ Preparing
computer models and simulations ■ Strengthening building codes ■ Preparing
emergency teams with adequate training ■ Upgrading communication
technology and availability ■ Storing emergency supplies ■ Educating the
public
CASE STUDIES
HAITI, 2010: The January 2010 earthquake in Haiti was a catastrophic,
magnitude 7.0 quake that occurred at a depth of 8 miles (13 km) below the
surface. About 3 million people were affected by the quake, with close to
200,000 people killed directly and more than 250,000 severely injured. The
capital of Port-au-Prince and surrounding cities were entirely destroyed
primarily due to inadequate building codes, making rescue attempts extremely
difficult. The quake occurred in the vicinity of the northern boundary of the
Caribbean tectonic plate, where it shifts eastward by about 0.79 inches (20 mm)
per year in relation to the North American plate.
SAN ANDREAS FAULT: The San Andreas Fault, first discovered in 1895, is a