Secondary One History-geography Integrated Assignment
Geography Component Term 1 2010
The Kashmir earthquake( also know as the South-Asia earthquake or Pakistan earthquake) of 2005, was a major earthquake whose epicenter was the Pakistan-administered disputed region of Kashmir near the city of Muzaffarabad. It occurred at 08:52 Pakistan Standard Time on October 8, 2005 and affected the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan.
Pakistan-administered Kashmir lies in the area of collision of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates and this geological activity was born out of the collision between these two plates. In the past, these plates have collided to create a lot more significant geological activity such as the Himalayan Mountains. The United States Geological Survey said the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.6, making it similar in size to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, and the 2009 Sumatra earthquakes.
As of 8 November, the government of Pakistan's official death toll was 79,000 while officials say nearly 1,400 people also died in Indian-administered Kashmir and four people in Afghanistan. affected more than 500,000 families. Farm animals also died due to the collapse of stone barns, and more than 500,000 large animals required immediate shelter from the harsh winter. Agricultural land and pr
operties were greatly damaged. Most building damage resulted from ground shaking. The severity of the damage caused by the earthquake is attributed to severe upthrust, coupled with poor construction. There were also massive landsliding and rock falls. A large number of buildings located mostly on or near slopes were destroyed by ground failure due to landsliding or subsidence.
In response to this event, some countries sent experts and equipment for rescue operations such as rescue helicopters , rescue team with sniffer dogs , medicine and army medical personnel to help with disaster relief in the hardest-hit areas of Kashmir. Planes were also sent with relief supply, including food, tents and shelter. The red cross associa
tion supplied iron sheets, tarpaulins, construction kits, thermal blankets and cooking kits and also build up a hospital tent complex, which was the main facility in the city for medial assistance. A total of 40 water supply schemes were repaired, bringing clean, drinkable water to people in the affected areas. Emergency aids were also given by countries. On November 19, 2005, it was estimated that the international community as a whole pledged about 5.8 billion USD.
We can minimize the impact of earthquakes by taking account of earthquake hazards in land-use decisions and using appropriate engineering and construction design to reduce the hazard. Involving communities in earthquake preparedness programs will also help in knowing more about earthquakes. Land owners, lenders, government officials, and others involved in land development need to understand the consequences of building in areas exposed to earthquake hazards. Individuals using property in hazardous areas may be at greater risk of injury and loss during an earthquake and emergency response may be more difficult in areas developed in regions of high earthquake risk.
Bibliography
http://www.drgeorgepc.com/Earthquake2005Pakistan.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Kashmir_earthquake
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_response_to_the_2005_Kashmir_earthquake
Kashmir EarthquakePublished by Mr Junkbot December 9, 2007, Category: Physical Geography http://scienceray.com/earth-sciences/physical-geography/2005-kashmir-earthquake/
http://www.redcross.org.uk/standard.asp?id=101893
