Christchurch Earthquake 2011 Case Study

The Christchurch earthquake of 2011 was a significant seismic event that struck New Zealand's second-largest city.

Key details:

• Magnitude 6.3 on the Richter scale
• Population affected: 390,300
• Very close to the epicenter

Primary effects of Christchurch earthquake 2011:

• 181 deaths
• 200 people trapped
• Gas pipes exploded, causing fires

Economic impacts of Christchurch earthquake 2011:

• 10,000 homes destroyed
• 100,000 homes damaged
• Central Christchurch severely affected due to building collapses

Immediate responses to Christchurch earthquake 2011:

• People taken to buildings for food and water
• Volunteers mobilized
• £20 million allocated for rebuilding
• Fire engines ran out of water due to the scale of fires

Secondary effects of Christchurch earthquake 2011:

• Aid and expertise sought from other countries
• Heavy lifting equipment required for rescue operations

Long-term mitigation:

• Implementation of computer-controlled building structures
• Consideration of the "doughnutting" effect in urban planning

Highlight: The Christchurch earthquake 2011 led to significant improvements in building design and urban planning to mitigate future earthquake risks.

Mount Pinatubo Eruption 1991

The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991 was a major volcanic event with global consequences.

Key details:

• Located in the Philippines
• Situated at a destructive plate boundary between Eurasian and Philippine plates
• Composite cone volcano type

Impacts:

• Transport problems due to ash
• Disease, starvation, and suffocation risks
• $700 million in damage
• Farmland covered in ash
• Homes collapsed
• Global temperature lowered by 1.5 degrees for 5 years due to sulphur dioxide emissions

Responses:

• Population quickly alerted and evacuated, though some refused to leave
• Typhoon Yunya exacerbated effects, with ash mixing with water leading to 300 deaths

Example: The Mount Pinatubo eruption demonstrates how volcanic events can have far-reaching climatic effects, as evidenced by the global temperature drop.