ZAHRA HANIF

SID: 64973
ASSIGNMENT #1
CASE STUDY

DIFFERENCE IN EARTHQUAKE MANAGEMENT BETWEEN

CALIFORNIA (USA) AND BAM (IRAN)

Q1. (a) State one similarity and one difference between the 2003
earthquakes in California and Bam.

The similarity between earthquakes in California and Bam:

a. Both earthquakes happened in December 2003

b. The magnitude of both earthquakes was 6.5 on the Richer scale.

The difference between earthquakes in California and Bam:

A clock tower was toppled, killing three people in California, whereas in Bam, a large
part of the city was flattened, killing around 30,000 people.

(b) Explain why the loss of life was so great in Bam.

Uncontrolled population growth and rapid, often unplanned, urbanisation are prevalent
in developing countries and can lead to various economic, political and social problems
that, in turn, can increase natural hazard vulnerability. An expert on the devastated city
of Bam said that those killed by the earthquake died only because of poor building
methods and a lack of proper regulation. In this case, one of the main problems
associated with rapid urbanisation is that it leads to a high population density. The large
amounts of debris and dust created by the collapse of adobe buildings in Bam caused
many people to die of asphyxiation, and not necessarily because of major or fatal direct
injuries. The absence of organized search and rescue missions in the first critical hours
after the earthquake increased the death toll.
(c) Is it likely that the next big earthquake in Iran will cause as much loss of
life? Explain your view about this.

If the earthquake is to hit Iran, it will cause as much loss of life as Bam. It is due to a
lack of adequate central funding, poor coordination between different organizations,
uncontrolled urbanization and growth of unplanned housing areas, and the persistence
of widespread rural and urban poverty. Despite the lack of safety precautions, the
authorities in Iran are used to dealing with the aftermath of earthquakes. The more
serious problem is the lack of sustained efforts to prevent future tragedies; the experts
say that Iran may create a policy after a disaster, bit it is never implemented; six months
after a disaster, the authorities forget about it.

Q2. Choose any three of the relief supplies needed after the destructive
earthquake in Bam and explain why each one was needed.

a. 20,000 family tents: Emergency tents have been deployed to serve as

temporary homes for the affected population as part of the post-disaster relief
operation. Emergency shelters are a must to survive in harsh conditions and
ensure safety, human dignity and protection for those who have lost their homes
instantly.
b. 400,000 water purification tablets: Guaranteed access to clean water is
impossible for most people in emergencies. A clean water source with elaborate
filtration systems is ideal for killing hazardous organisms' traces. However, more
portable water means purifying water is less pragmatic during emergencies. This
is where water purification tablets are needed the most.
c. 200,000 blankets: A blanket’s main use is to keep the affected people warm and
reduce heat loss in the body, but they provide many additional benefits, i-e
weather protection; against windy, rainy or cold climates. Blankets provide
warmth and coverage against the harshness of the environment.

Q3. ‘The stronger the earthquake, the greater the loss of life.’ Do you agree
with this statement? Explain your answer.

According to nature, the higher the magnitude, the greater the damage, as it will lead to
the collapse of buildings and structures, which will cause more people to be trapped,
suffering from injuries or even loss of lives. An earthquake of magnitude 3 to 4 will
cause hanging objects to swing and will cause minor damage, such as cracks in the
wall. An earthquake of magnitude 5 to 6 can damage poorly constructed buildings.
Earthquakes of magnitude 6 to 7 will cause many structures to collapse and cracks to
appear on the ground. Earthquakes of magnitude 7 to 8 will cause many buildings to
collapse and severe damage. Earthquakes of magnitude 8 to 9 will cause widespread
destruction and trigger landslides.

However, earthquakes with greater magnitudes may not always cause more extensive
damage and destruction. For example, we observed through this case study that a 6.5
magnitude earthquake in California, USA, in 2003 had a death toll of 3 people while the
magnitude 6.5 earthquake in Bam, Iran, in 2003 had a death toll of more than around
30,000 people.

Apart from its magnitude, the extent of damage caused by an earthquake may vary
based on other factors such as population density, geology, time of occurrence, level of
preparedness etc.

a. Proximity to the epicentre - The epicentre is on the earth’s surface directly above
the focus where seismic waves originate. The damage caused by an earthquake
is more severe when an area is closer to the epicentre of the earthquake as the
intensity will be greatest/vibration strongest. More buildings and structures will
collapse, causing more damage and also more casualties as more people will be
trapped or killed.

During the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2011, the epicentre was
in a town a few kilometres away from the city centre. The city suffered more
damage than areas further away from the city.

b. Depth of focus - The focus is the point within the earth where seismic waves
originate; it is centred on the part of the fault that has the greatest movement.
When the earthquake's focus is shallower, which is nearer to the earth's surface,
the seismic waves reach the earth's surface faster and with greater energy. More
buildings and structures will collapse, causing more damage and also more
casualties as more people will be trapped or killed.
c. Population Density - Earthquakes in sparsely populated areas are likely to affect
fewer people than in densely populated areas, as there will be more high-rise
buildings and structures in a densely populated area.
d. Geology - In places where the sediments are loose and unconsolidated, the
seismic waves are amplified, resulting in greater damage when earthquakes
occur. Structures built on saturated and unconsolidated sediments can be
affected by liquefaction (when the ground becomes unstable and saturated soil
flow like a liquid.
e. Time of occurrence - The time of day during which an earthquake occurs will
affect people’s chances of survival in an earthquake. If the earthquake occurs
 when most people are sleeping, there is a higher chance that these people are
trapped in their houses, and more deaths may occur.
f. Level of preparedness - The amount of preparation taken by the authorities and
citizens makes a significant difference in the impact of an earthquake. These
preparations include having evacuation plans, trained rescue workers and a
range of action plans. The damage caused by an earthquake is more
manageable when people are better prepared for it. For Example, in the case of
Bam and California, California was more prepared, so the casualties were lesser.