Earthquake

(2010)

Haiti's

The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicenter near the town of Logne, approximately 25 kilometres west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time (21:53 UTC) on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.

1. Science helps us predict hazards

End of the seismic cycle of Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault zone may involve a 7.2 Mw earthquake.

Geologist Patrick Charles predicted that there was a high risk of major seismic activity in Port-au-Prince.

2. Knowing hazard risk can help people make decisions

American geologists published a study in 2008 which concluded that Prince, who had not suffered an earthquake of great intensity since 1751, could face a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. However, they could not say exactly when the earthquake would occur tomorrow or in 30 years.

The forecast is made by measuring the amount of accumulated tension in a particular fault, then extrapolating the amount of energy that would be released eventually.

3. Linkages exist between natural hazards

On 24 January USGS reported that there had been 52 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater since 12 January quake.

Beach of the small fishing town of Petit Paradis was hit by a localised tsunami shortly after the earthquake, probably as a result of an underwater slide.

Humans can turn disastrous events into catastrophes

Less developed countries are more vulnerable to natural hazards (lack of understanding, education, infrastructure, building, codes, etc).

Poverty also plays a role (poor building structure, increased population density, lack of communication and infrastructure.)

5. Consequences of hazards can be minimized

The devastating earthquake in Haiti was due to a shift in a strange and different geological fault which had attributed the phenomenon at first, geophysics professor Eric Calais said.

A report prepared by the Russian Northern Fleet would indicate that the earthquake that devastated Haiti was the "clear result" of a test of the US Navy through one of its' earthquake weapons.

By:

Carazo Cabello, Laura.

Conde Ponte, Ana.

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