Transcript Ariana Snowdon`s group

Pakistan- North India Earthquake
Ariana Snowdon, Ben Smolen,
Chris Jasinski, Eli Bronner
Geologic History of the Region
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India once belonged to an Island continent called
Gondwanaland
140 million years ago, India began it's northward
movement, on a collision course with the Eurasian
continent
The point where the two continents were joined is known
as the Indus-Yarlung Suture zone
60 million years, the Indian and Asian plates became
closely welded along this suture zone
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Formation of the Himalayas is result of collision of
continents, contraction of the Tethyan ocean, and elements
from the mountains of then northern India, the oceanic
crust, and the deep sea sediments from the Jurassic and
Cretaceous periods.
3 phases
1st up thrust lead to the formation of a lower range of hills
known as the Shivaliks, made up of erosion elements of
the rising Himalayas.
2nd lead to further uplift of the central axis, and the
formation of the great peaks of the Garhwal Himalaya and
Nanda Devi.
3rd lead to rise the Himalayas, Transhimalaya, Karakorum,
and the whole of the Tibetan region, which in the last 1
million years it has risen by nearly 5,000 meters, an
average of 4-5 millimeters per year.
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As a result, large lakes were also formed as rising rivers
were blocked by the emergent ranges.
As the rising Pir Panjal range blocked the Jhelum River, it
turned what we know as The Vale of Kashmir into a lake.
History of Quakes in the Region
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Jan. 23, 1556 - Shansi, China – 830,000 Deaths – n.a.
July 27, 1976 – Tangshan, China – 255,000 Deaths – 8.0
Dec. 26 2004 – off west coast of Sumatra – 242,000 Deaths – 9.0
May 22, 1927 – Xining, China – 200,000 Deaths – 8.3
Dec. 22, 856 – Damghan, Iran – 200,000 Deaths – n.a.
Dec. 16, 1920 – Gansu, China – 200,000 Deaths – 8.6
March 23, 893 – Ardibil, Iran – 150,000 Deaths – n.a.
Oct 5, 1948 - Ashbagat, Turkmenistan – 110,000 Deaths – 7.3
Sept. 1290 – Chihli, China – 100,000 Deaths – n.a.
Oct. 8, 2005 – Pakistan – 88,710+ Deaths – 7.6
Nov. 18, 1727 – Tabriz, Iran – 77,000 Deaths – n.a.
Dec. 25, 1932 – Gansu, China – 70,000 Deaths – 7.6
May 30, 1935 – Quetta, Pakistan – 30,000- 60,000 Deaths – 7.5
June 20, 1990 – Iran – 50,000 Deaths – 7.7
October 8, 2005, 8:50am local time
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Kashmir region of Northern India has general unstable
seismicity
 Result of Indian tectonic plate colliding with Eurasian
plate
 Hypocenter reported at a depth of 16 miles below the
earth’s surface
 Magnitude of 7.8 on Richter Scale
 Quake caused massive damage in Northern Pakistan,
Northern India, and Afghanistan
 Kashmir region suffered the most damage
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The Pakistani province of Punjab felt aftershocks of
magnitudes of around 4.5.
There were 147 aftershocks felt and reported, the first day
following the original earthquake. One of secondary
quakes reported a magnitude of 6.2.
As of October 27, there were 978 aftershocks with
magnitudes of 4.0 or over.
There were a reported 73,276 dead as a result, and around
100,000 more injured.
http://www.drgeorgepc.com/Earthquake2005Pakistan.html
Pakistan is defenseless to landslides as a result of the high
relief of the unstable mountains. Monsoon rains before or
after an earthquake can result in very serious damage.
After the earthquake, Muzaffarabad a city in Pakistan, was
pummeled with landslides.
Political Response and Immediate Aftermath
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Pakistan government quickly realized that magnitude of
the disaster was beyond their capabilities, and sought
international aid.
 Aid came in the form of money, medical supplies, food,
helicopters, tents, and blankets
 UNHCR was at forefront of response, sending over 30,000
family tents, 100,000 blankets, 2000 stoves
 U.S. pledged $156 million in initial support, as well as
sending military and medical personnel, mobilizing many
military helicopters to assist in food and supply drops
 Final statistics find that 15,000 villages were affected,
several major cities were virtually flattened, over 74,000
killed, over 106,000 injured, and an estimated 3.5 million
were left homeless
 $5.8 million USD was contributed from the international
community
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Weak buildings contributed to high number of deaths
 Poor road construction led to many roads being damaged,
hampering relief efforts and cutting many villages off from
the relief supplies.
 Snow began falling on October 13, further impeding relief
efforts.
 International relief was slow to arrive, due in part to the
slow response from the Pakistani government and perhaps
also due in part to the two other major natural disasters in
the preceding year- the Asian tsunami and Hurricane
Katrina.
 Slow response led to higher death toll than necessary, with
many more dying from infection as minor wounds turned
serious without proper medical attention, as well as cold
and lack of food and sanitary water.
Long Term Effects
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Lack of technology in the area resulted in slower response
than was needed. Lacking machinery, people were forced
to use pickaxes and dig by hand for survivors and bodies.
Power was destroyed to many villages, leaving many
without water.
Unsanitary water resulted in the spread of many diseases,
including typhoid and measles
Exposure and the high altitude of the region became more
serious as the Himalayan winter approached
Line of Control between India and Pakistan, usually
politically tense and violent region, was opened in five
places to allow for exchange of medical supplies and relief
efforts
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As of 2006, recovery efforts are ongoing
Japan International Cooperation Agency proposed $40
billion dollar land plan to help rebuild damaged areas
A year later, some areas are still “red-zoned” and receiving
no aid because of their location in geographically unstable
areas
Approx. 2 million people are still living in temporary
shelter
Lack of media attention and remote location have led to
fall-off of international aid, despite millions still suffering.