Haiti Earthquake 2010 (LIC)
The Haiti earthquake 2010 primary and secondary effects showcase the devastating impact on a less developed nation. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake occurred on a destructive plate margin between the Caribbean and North American plates.
Primary Effects:
- 220,000 fatalities
- 300,000 injuries
- 1.3 million people left homeless
- Destruction of 100,000 houses and damage to 200,000 more
- Collapse of 8 hospitals
- Severe damage to main port
Definition: Destructive plate margin - Where tectonic plates move towards each other, causing one to sink beneath the other
Secondary Effects:
- 2 million people left without basic necessities
- Widespread power outages
- Increased crime rates including looting and violence
- Cholera outbreak by November 2010
Short-term Response:
- US deployment of rescue teams and 100,000 troops
- UK government's £20 million donation
- Distribution of water and purification tablets
- Evacuation of 235,000 people from Port-au-Prince
Quote: "One year after the earthquake, over 1 million people still lived in temporary shelters."
Long-term Recovery:
- Continued dependence on international aid
- Slow but improved building standards implementation
- Significant investment required for port reconstruction
