Natural Disasters: Chile and Nepal Earthquakes

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Questions and Answers

What are primary effects of an earthquake?

Fires and aftershocks

Tsunamis and landslides

Long-term economic downturn

Damage to infrastructure and loss of life (correct)

Which plate margin was involved in the earthquake that struck Chile in 2010?

Transform plate margin

Passive plate margin

Constructive plate margin

Destructive plate margin (correct)

What was the magnitude of the earthquake that struck Nepal in 2015?

7.9 on the Richter scale (correct)

8.5 on the Richter scale

6.5 on the Richter scale

7.0 on the Richter scale

What is the Human Development Index (HDI) rank of Nepal?

145th out of 187 countries Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes secondary effects of earthquakes?

Natural disasters resulting from primary effects Signup and view all the answers

How does the GDP rank of Chile compare to that of Nepal?

Chile is ranked higher than Nepal Signup and view all the answers

What was a consequence of the earthquake in Chile regarding tsunami warnings?

Waves traveled across the Pacific Ocean Signup and view all the answers

What geological feature is associated with the earthquake in Nepal?

Destructive interaction of Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates Signup and view all the answers

What was the estimated cost of damage caused by the earthquake in Chile?

US$30 billion Signup and view all the answers

Which primary effect of the Nepal earthquake resulted in the most immediate impact on the population?

The number of deaths Signup and view all the answers

Which secondary effect of the Nepal earthquake significantly complicated relief efforts?

Road blockages from landslides Signup and view all the answers

What caused the tsunami waves associated with the Chilean earthquake?

Ground shaking under the ocean Signup and view all the answers

How many homes were destroyed as a primary effect of the Chile earthquake?

220,000 Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the primary responses to the tsunami threat following the Chile earthquake?

Evacuation orders Signup and view all the answers

Which factor indicates that Nepal is less developed compared to Chile based on the effects of their respective earthquakes?

Limited communication systems Signup and view all the answers

What was one consequence of the international airport congestion in Nepal after the earthquake?

Delivery of humanitarian aid Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chile Earthquake

Primary Effects: Approximately 500 fatalities, 12,000 injuries, and 800,000 people affected. 220,000 homes, 4,500 schools, and numerous public buildings were destroyed. Significant damage to ports, hospitals, and the Port of Talcahuanao and Santiago airport. Loss of power, water, and communication networks in much of Chile.
Estimated Cost: US$30 billion in damages.
Secondary Effects: 1,500 km of roads were damaged, mainly due to landslides, isolating communities. Coastal towns were devastated by tsunamis. Fires broke out at a chemical plant near Santiago, requiring evacuation.

Nepal Earthquake

Primary Effects: 9,000 fatalities, 20,000 injuries, and over 8 million people affected (approximately one-third of Nepal's population). 3 million people became homeless due to destroyed homes. Electricity, water, sanitation, and communication systems were severely affected.
Needs: 1.4 million people required food, water, and shelter. 7,000 schools and numerous hospitals were destroyed. International airport became congested with aid/assistance. 50% of shops were destroyed, impacting food supplies.
Estimated Cost: Over US$5 billion in damages.
Secondary Effects: Ground shaking triggered landslides and avalanches, blocking roads, and hindering relief efforts. Mount Everest avalanches resulted in at least 19 deaths, the highest loss of life on the mountain. Landslides blocked off the Kali Gandaki River, approximately 140 km (90 miles) northwest of Kathmandu, necessitating evacuations due to potential flooding.

Earthquake Comparison (Chile vs Nepal)

Wealth/Development: Chile is wealthier and more developed than Nepal, as evidenced by GDP and HDI rankings. This difference in wealth affected secondary effects of the earthquakes.
Tsunami: The Chile earthquake triggered a tsunami due to its location offshore. The Nepal earthquake, occurring on land, did not.
Affected Area: The Nepal earthquake affected a wider area than the Chile earthquake, causing secondary effects far from the epicenter.

Earthquake Activities

Evidence of Development Difference: The lower development of Nepal compared to Chile is evident through infrastructure and disaster resilience capabilities.
Vast Area Effect: Nepal's geological location within the Himalayas at a collision zone, contributed to the wider damage impact.
Tsunami Trigger: Chile's earthquake occurred at a destructive plate margin offshore, triggering a tsunami.
Secondary Impacts: Secondary effects of the earthquakes were significantly influenced by wealth and development levels of the affected areas.
Tsunami Effects: Chilean earthquake-induced tsunami waves raced across the Pacific at speeds of up to 800 km/hour.

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Description

Explore the devastating effects of the Chile and Nepal earthquakes through this quiz. Learn about the primary and secondary effects, the economic toll, and the humanitarian needs that arose from these catastrophic events. Test your knowledge on these tragic natural disasters and their implications.