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Updated Mar 21, 2026

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Haiti Earthquake Case Study 2010 for GCSE Geography

Jorja Crookes

@jorjacrookes

The 2010 Haiti earthquake was one of the most devastating... Show more

# HAITI EARTHQUAKE 2010

LOCATION

- Haiti is located in both the Northern and Southern.
hemisphere

-It is situated in the continent of Nor

Haiti Earthquake 2010: The Basics

Haiti sits in the Caribbean, just southeast of Florida and north of Venezuela. On January 12th, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck this small island nation with devastating consequences.

The earthquake happened on a conservative plate boundary with its focus only 13km deep underground. The epicentre was dangerously close to Port-au-Prince - just 25km away from the capital where millions lived.

What made this disaster so deadly wasn't just the earthquake's strength, but Haiti's situation beforehand. As a Low Income Developing Country (LIDC), most buildings were cheap and poorly constructed, making them death traps when the ground started shaking.

Key Fact: The earthquake's shallow depth meant its energy hit the surface with maximum force, explaining why the damage was so extreme.

The numbers tell a horrific story: 200,000 deaths, 250,000 serious injuries, and over 1 million people left homeless. A third of all buildings in Port-au-Prince simply collapsed, and poverty rates jumped from 50% to 80% overnight.

Recovery: Short, Medium and Long-term Responses

Immediate chaos followed the earthquake as food trucks were mobbed by desperate survivors. International aid organisations like Oxfam quickly delivered supplies and dug wells for clean water, whilst UN troops arrived to maintain order and provide medical attention.

Within months, the medium-term impacts became clear. Trading stopped completely, unemployment skyrocketed, and those injured couldn't work to support their families. Nine months later, a cholera outbreak infected 600,000 people and killed 8,000 more.

However, charities began employing local workers to distribute food, creating some income whilst helping recovery efforts. Emergency treatment services were established to handle the ongoing health crisis.

Remember: Recovery from major earthquakes takes decades, not months - especially in poorer countries.

Long-term planning now focuses on making Haiti earthquake-ready. This includes earthquake simulation exercises, building earthquake-proof housing, and educating people about safety. The harsh reality is that Haiti will depend on overseas aid for years to come, needing massive investments to rebuild roads, electricity, water, and telephone systems to modern standards.

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Updated Mar 21, 2026

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2 pages

Haiti Earthquake Case Study 2010 for GCSE Geography

Jorja Crookes

@jorjacrookes

The 2010 Haiti earthquake was one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent history, killing 200,000 people in just minutes. This 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, the capital city, and completely transformed life for millions of Haitians. Understanding... Show more

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Haiti Earthquake 2010: The Basics

Haiti sits in the Caribbean, just southeast of Florida and north of Venezuela. On January 12th, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck this small island nation with devastating consequences.

Key Fact: The earthquake's shallow depth meant its energy hit the surface with maximum force, explaining why the damage was so extreme.

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Recovery: Short, Medium and Long-term Responses

Remember: Recovery from major earthquakes takes decades, not months - especially in poorer countries.