Key information and statistics

Socio-economic profile

Location: Himalayan region of northern Pakistan and Kashmir. Magnitude : 7.6

4 million people left homeless

In Pakistan:•86,000 +people killed•69,000+ people injured•32,335 buildings collapsedIn India:•1,350+ people killed•6,266+ people injured

LEDCTerrain: MountainsMedian Female Age: 22 yearsMedian Male Age: 21.9 yearsBirth rate: 24.3/1000Death Rate: 6.8/1000Net Migration: -2/1000Infant Mortality: 61.27/1000Life expectancy: 66.35 yearsLiteracy Rate: 54.9%Independence: 1947

Level of development Associated hazards

Pakistan – LEDCIndia - NIC

LandslideRockfallSeiches(A seiche is the sloshing of a closed body of water from earthquake shaking, e.g lake, swimming pool)

Map of the affected area

Diagram of cause of the event (include place specific detail e.g. name of plates)

Explanation of the cause

Tectonic event / location: Kashmir Earthquake, Pakistan, 10/8/05

Large horizontal displacement of up to 10m

The result of Indianan plate and gradually moving into the Eurasian plate. Its geological movement was north at a speed of five centimetres a year - a millimetre per week. It is two continental plates colliding so it is a Continental Convergent boundary and is how the Himalayan mountains were born.

Impact on the landscape

Why do people live in this area? The levels of development in Kashmir are low, many people live in the area because it is suitable for agriculture. Given its temperate climate, it is suited for crops like asparagus, artichoke, seakale, broad beans, scarletrunners, beetroot, cauliflower and fruit trees.

Summarise the impacts of the event.Social•Thousands of houses were destroyed.•3.2 million people became homeless.

Economic•Hospitals, mosques, markets, power lines, and government offices were severely affected.•Landslides damaged roads and bridges – prevented aid.

Environmental/Physical•Liquefaction and sandblows occurred in the western part of Vale of Kashmir and near Jammu.•Seiches were observed in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, India and many places in Bangladesh.•Large amounts of farmland had been destroyed – making agriculture hard!(economic)

Political•India helped provide aid for Pakistan despite the clashes over who owns Kashmir.•The border between India and Pakistan was opened in a few places to allow food and emergency supplies to cross

How did the impacts vary over time? E.g. short term and long term impacts.•One year on, about 400,000 people face a second winter without permanent shelter in the mountains and valleys of northern Pakistan people will still have to rebuild their homes!

•Despite this damage shown on the left. A year later Balakot remains an economic centre, markets are functioning and people are able to buy food and building materials as crops and animals survived the earthquake.•Many roads have had to be diverted due to landslides•Fewer schools have been built so less people can have access to education.•Diseases (mainly diarrhoea) spread from contaminated water supplies, and also respiratory infections like pneumonia. People also died of cold in the harsh winter, because they only had thin tents to live in.

There were large cracks in the ground surface.

What are the different ways people have attempted to cope...?

Before the event During the event After the event

•They did not do anything before the event despite knowing the area was prone to earthquakes . •No governmental scheme or evacuation procedure was placed into action .•Houses were concrete, wood and corrugated iron.•High density of buildings and people in all towns and villages.

•As Saturday is a normal school day in the region, most students were at school Many were buried under collapsed school buildings due to poor infrastructure.•Local people started trying to rescue those who were trapped.

•It took days before the army would reach any cut-off areas but when they did they helped save trapped people.•Without any shelter, infants and elders contracted pneumonia when downpours soaked their bedding. •The Pakistani government and the UN are encouraging people to rebuild their homes so they are more resistant to earthquakes•Living in temporary tents and shelters.•Live of aid from foreign countries.•Foreign aid provided medical care to help look after the injured.

Analyse the response to the event

Immediate responses to the event were local people trying to rescue those who were trapped. Political matters were put aside as the borders between India and Pakistan were opened to allow the Indian Red cross to distribute 21 500 blankets, 300 kitchen sets, and medical supplies but also to allow food through. The army and emergency services arrived to help dig people out. Helicopters from the military were used to take the injured to first aid centres on flatter ground. Tents were given out by charities like Muslim Aid and the Pakistani and Indian armies. Pakistan Airways carried emergency food and supplies from other countries for free. Military hospitals were opened for civilian casualties. Rescue and medical teams arrived from other countries (e.g.Russia and the UK) to try to find survivors and treat the injured. The longer term responses so the Recovery section, would have been the re-established water supplies and the rebuilding of homes. They will also have to rebuild schools and train teachers to counsel the children who are in shock. Sanitation will also need to be rebuilt, and building laws may be tightened so that less damage is caused less time!

Sources / References (e.g. textbooks, journals, documentary, internet)http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/5392908.stmA2 Phillip Allen Textbookhttp://www.jugaa.com/new%20EERI%20File.pdfhttp://www.cas.umt.edu/geography/documents/MRD_Hamilton_Halvorson_2007.pdfhttp://fds.oup.com/www.oup.com/pdf/oxed/geog.GCSE_SB_01.pdfhttp://www.himalayanclub.org/journal/the-great-himalayan-earthquakes/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWThsBBMJlMhttp://pre-drp.org/about-2/disaster-management-cycle