Kashmir Earthquake

Statistics
Date: Magnitude (Richter): Depth: Epicenter: Countries/ regions affected: Casualties: 8th October 2005 7.6 10 km (6.2 miles) Muzaffarabad, Pakistan Occupied region of J&K Pakistan, India, Afghanistan 100,000 dead; 138,000 injured; 3.5 million displaced Comment: 18th deadliest earthquake of all time

Figure 1: Location of Epicentre

Introduction
This was a major earthquake located in Kashmir and the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The epicentre was Muzzaffarabad in the Kashmir region of Pakistan, 80km north-east of Islamabad. The 7.6 magnitude earthquake took place on Saturday 8th October at 0925 local time. The earthquake killed over 80,000 people. Pakistan's official death toll was 79,000, while officials say nearly 1,400 people also died in Jammu and Kashmir in India and four people in Afghanistan.

Cause, Prediction and Preparation for the earthquake

The earthquake in Pakistan is the result of the collision of the Indian Plate north into the Asian plate. North West Pakistan lies close to the boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates. This boundary is a collision zone where the intense stress between the two plates has created the Himalayan mountain chain by compressing and uplifting rock strata. The collision of the Indian with Eurasian plate has given rise to stresses that are responsible for many of the earthquakes in India, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The earthquake lasted longer 60 seconds rather than the 20-30 seconds that is normal in this area. Although scientists know that earthquakes are likely to occur in this area they do not know exactly when. The area comprises of people with a fairly poor economic background and hence, they are inadequately prepared for large earthquakes. There are few earthquake regulations for buildings and even these are rarely enforced. Most of the buildings were made without adherence to regular construction codes let alone the incorporation of earthquake resistant designs. This would have contributed a greatly to the total devastation resulting due to the earthquake but the exact extent of its impact is unknown.

Why was this earthquake so devastating?

It is thought to be the strongest earthquake to hit the region in a century. Few buildings were built to withstand such a severe shockwave. It was followed by 20 powerful aftershocks which forced survivors to live outside. Many of the areas affected were in remote valleys which were often blocked by landslides which hindered relief efforts. Many children had just begun with their lessons in school buildings which collapsed during the earthquake. Over 8,000 schools were destroyed.

Effects of the earthquake

Figure 2 Arial view of an intensely affected area

Figure 3 Poor Construction Practices

The earthquake killed about 100,000 people. Children have been the biggest number of casualties as many had just started lessons when the earthquake struck and were killed when their schools collapsed. Over 8,000 schools were destroyed. An entire generation of young people has been wiped out in the areas worst hit, for example, at Balakot.

Tangshan Earthquake
Statistics
Date: Magnitude (Richter): Depth: Epicenter: Countries/ regions affected: Casualties: 28th July 1976 7.8 7.5km Tangshan, Hebei, China Peoples Republic of China 242,769 dead; 164,000 injured Comment: 3rd deadliest earthquake of all time

Introduction
The Tangshan Earthquake, also known as the Great Tangshan Earthquake, was a natural disaster that occurred on Wednesday, July 28, 1976. It is believed to be the largest earthquake of the 20th century by death toll. The epicenter of the earthquake was near Tangshan in Hebei, People's Republic of China, an industrial city with approximately one million inhabitants. The number of deaths initially reported by the Chinese government was 655,000, but this number has since been stated to be around 240,000 to 255,000 and explains that the lower estimates are limited to Tangshan and exclude fatalities in the densely populated surrounding areas.

Cause, Prediction and Preparation for the earthquake

The earthquake was generated by the 25-mile long Tangshan Fault, which runs near the city and ruptured due to tectonic forces caused by the Amurian Plate sliding past the Eurasian Plate. Well water in a village outside of Tangshan reportedly rose and fell three times the day before the earthquake. Gas began to spout out of a well in another village on July 12 and then increased on July 25 and July 26. City dwellers from the "downtown" area who had fish discovered that the fish were restless, jumping out of the aquarium as if wanting to escape; therefore some animals may have anticipated the earthquake. More than half a month before the earthquake struck, Wang Chengmin of the State Seismological Bureau (SSB) Analysis and Prediction Department had already concluded that the Tangshan region would be struck by a significant earthquake between July 22, 1976 and August 5, 1976. Abnormal signals were mentioned for Beijing, Tianjin, Tangshan, Bohai and Zhangjiakou regions. Wang made an effort to publicize the information to 60 people.

Why was this earthquake so devastating? Effects of the earthquake