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Sichuan Earthquake, China 12 th May 2008, 2:30pm

Learn about the devastating 7.9 Richter scale earthquake in Sichuan, China on May 12th, 2008. Explore its primary and secondary effects, short-term and long-term responses, and the impact on the region's economy and infrastructure.

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Sichuan Earthquake, China 12 th May 2008, 2:30pm

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  1. Sichuan Earthquake, China12th May 2008, 2:30pm Causes, primary & secondary effects, short term & long term responses

  2. Location & Cause Indian Plate collides into Eurasian Plate (vel. c 50mm/yr) – destructive collision 12th May 2008, 2:30pm Epicentre was 90km north-westof Chengdu, Sichuan 7.9 Richter scale, tremors lasted 120 seconds 1.5km of surface faults were observed

  3. The affected area KEY IDEA: Sichuan Province – this is predominantly a rural area. China is a vast country. It is argued that its government neglects its rural areas – NO warning for the people in Sichuan- led to a severely high death toll.

  4. Primary Effects • 70,000 dead, 20,000 missing, 400,000 injured • 50 million people affected, 15 million evacuated • 5 million buildings collapsed, 21 million damaged, 5 million homeless in Sichuan • 8 schools were toppled

  5. Secondary Effects: Fractured Dams 3,000 dams fractured threatening 700,000 people downstream

  6. Secondary Effects: Quake Lakes

  7. Secondary Effects: Economic Cost Economic loss estimated at US$86 billion

  8. Short-Term Responses • Government mobilised 80,000 troops, due to mountainous terrain some troops had to be parachuted in • Troops used explosives and even missiles to blast channels to relieve the water pressure building up in Tangjiashan - the largest of the lakes caused by the earthquake and its aftershocks. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7404614.stm

  9. Long-Term Responses • 95 billion yuan given by Chinese government to relief fund • Areas of Sichuan are still not redeveloped • 29 billion yuan required for local economy to recover Media coverage in China and around the world was handled carefully so not to show China in a bad light in the run up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics

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