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35 - Earthquakes

from SECTION B - ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2011

By
Carl H. Schultz  and
Solisis Deynes
Edited by
Kristi L. Koenig  and
Carl H. Schultz
Kristi L. Koenig
Affiliation:
University of California, Irvine
Carl H. Schultz
Affiliation:
University of California, Irvine
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Summary

OVERVIEW

Disasters have posed a significant threat to human lives and property throughout history. Such events include hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, tsunamis, and earthquakes, among others. During the past 40 years, disasters have caused more than 3 million deaths worldwide, including more than 1 million deaths from seismic events. Earthquakes are considered one of the most destructive disasters. An average of 16 earthquakes leading to death occur throughout the world each year with many more leading to injury and property damage. The Hanshin-Awaji earthquake in Japan produced at least 100 billion USD in damage and killed more than 6,000 people. The 1994 Northridge earthquake in California caused an estimated 20–30 billion USD in damages, and preliminary damage estimates for Hawaii's 2006 temblor reached 100 million USD. These events occurred in nations that have sophisticated, modern seismic building codes. Outcomes can be even more destructive in less developed countries (Table 35.1).

Society's continued vulnerability to the devastating effects of earthquakes is due to several factors. Earthquakes are within the category of sudden-impact disasters that strike quickly and without warning, making mitigation and evacuation efforts difficult. The quantity of property damage, loss of life, disruption of economic activity, and interference in the provision of important services associated with the effects of an earthquake vary depending on its magnitude and on the degree of earthquake preparedness and mitigation measures implemented in the region affected by the temblor.

Keywords

disaster preparednessearthquakesmedical issuestectonics plate theorynontrauma-related conditionsseismic events
Type
Chapter
Information
Koenig and Schultz's Disaster Medicine
Comprehensive Principles and Practices
 , pp. 562 - 577
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2009

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