Hazard Hotspot Case Studies

Philippines – 2013 Bohol Earthquake

Effects Social Economic
What  7.2 magnitude earthquake Short  222 deaths  Some flights
 Depth of 12km term  8 missing cancelled or
 Deadliest earthquake in the Philippines in  976 injured delayed
23 years  32 million people affected  Sea ports
Where  Bohol, an island province located in the  Some roads were impassable hampering aid efforts disrupted but back
central Visayas, Philippines  Energy services cut off to normal after 2
 Lack of fresh drinking water days
 Unsanitary conditions
 Food supplies disrupted as many markets didn’t open for about a week
after the quake
 Aftershocks forced residents to sleep outside in makeshift shelters

When  October 15th 2013 Long  73,000 structures damaged of which 14,500 were completely destroyed  2.25 billion dollars
 8:12am Term  Over 71,000 families (over 348,000 people) were displaced in Bohol of damage
Cause  North Bohol Fault  Lots of churches damaged, this is a problem as religion is a big part of the  Bohol airport
 Reverse fault along the west of the Bohol culture affected
Island  The Congressman Natalino P. Castillo, Sr. Memorial Hospital in Loon  Tourist attraction,
collapsed, trapping and killing an unknown number of patients chocolate hills
 Spread of waterborne diseases and diarrhoea damaged (by
 Physiological trauma caused to many people. landslides)
 1/5 of households in Bohol still had no electricity 1 week after the quake
Philippines – Typhoon Haiyan
What  Deadliest Pilipino Typhoon on record
 Strongest storm recorded at landfall
 4th strongest ever recorded in terms of
wind speed (230km/hour)
 Category 5 super typhoon
Where  Philippines
 Micronesia
 Southern China
 Vietnam
When  Formed November 3rd 2013
 Hit Philippines November 8th 2013
 Dissipated November 11th 2013
Effects Social Economic Environmental
Short  Death toll at least 5,560 (sources  Ferries affected  281.9mm of rainfall
term vary between 2,500 and 10,000)  Airports closed recorded, which feel in
 22,000 people missing under 12 hours
 No mobile phone coverage  Storm surges measured 5
afterwards to 6 metres
 No power for some areas (may  Trees blown over
have no power for up to a  Flooding extended for 1km
month) inland
 Lack of access to clean water  Landslides
(some pipes were dug up by  Flash floods
residents)
 Escaped prisoners from prison
 Ormoc city also badly affected,
but there was a fear that they
would be without aid as Tacloban
was worse affected, 2,000 injured
in Ormoc and hospitals shut or
working at partial capacity.
 Looting occurred due to lack of
aid being received in some areas,
aid trucks and fuel stations were
also attacked
 New people’s army (communist)
ambushed relief convoy killing
two people.
Long  11 million people affected and  Damage $1.41 billion USD  Mud and debris needed to
Term many have been left homeless (30.6 million has been be cleared up
 Cities and towns largely allocated by the
destroyed in the Leyte and Samar government to relief)
islands  Tacloban airport destroyed
 Some areas completely washed
away (90% of Tacloban estimated
to have been destroyed)
California - 2010 Baja California Earthquake
Effects Social Economic Environmental
What  7.2 magnitude earthquake Short  Four people killed  Two water mains burst
 10km depth term  100 injured (most injured by  Landslides
 Lasted about a minute and a half things falling on them)
 Strongest in California for 18 years  20 million people felt it
Where  California  Skyscrapers shook
 Mexico  San Diego airport water leak and
evacuation because of fear of gas
leak
 Colorado bridge briefly closed as
a precautionary measure
 Electrical services disrupted
 Multiple fires due to gas leaks
When  April 4th 2010 Long  Structural damage to water  Damage to irrigation
Cause  The quake was believed to have Term system leaking gas pipes cause systems, 80,000 acres of
occurred on the Laguna Salada Fault, Imperial valley to be closed land impacted
which is about 60 kilometres long and  Collapsed balconies and
on the California–Baja California border. chimneys reported
 Telephone poles knocked over

Impacts in italics were the impacts to Mexico

California – The Cedar Fire
Effects Social Economic Environmental
What  Wildfire Short term  15 people died  Temporary housing for animals displaced by the
 One of 15 that  Large evacuation of fire
month people
 Largest wildfire in  Red cross provided
California’s history food, water, shelter,
 Driven by Santa Ana clothing etc. to
Winds burned those affected
280,278 acres

Where  Affected large parts

of the San Diego
county of California

When  October 15th 2003 – Long Term  2,820 buildings (2,232  Insurance had  Invasive weeds and grasses may grow back more
November 3rd 2003 homes) destroyed to be paid out quickly than native plants (accelerates erosion)
Cause  Signal fire which got  Physiological to those  Habitat destruction
out of control problems for some affected  Affected watersheds – increased turbidity in rivers
people affected  $32 million leading to less sunlight penetration changing
fire fighting conditions for animals, as well as increased
cost erosion and sedimentation
 Changes to soil
 Fire clean up and debris removal needed to be
coordinated

Other Examples:
Philippines:
California:
 Moro Gulf Earthquake (August 1976) – 8 on the Richter scale and
 Rush Fire (August 2012) -315,557 acres affected and started by lightening
between 5,000 and 8,000 deaths
 Rim Fire (August 2013) - 257,314 acres affected
 Luzon Island Earthquake (July 1990) – 7.8 magnitude and 1,262 deaths
 Eureka Earthquake (January 2010) – 6.5 magnitude, 35 injuries, cost of
 Southern Leyte Mudslide (February 2006) – 1126 deaths
$43 million
 Typhoon Bopha (November 2012) – category 5 super typhoon and 1,146
 Hector Mine Earthquake (October 1999) – Magnitude 7.1 but not a lot of
deaths with a cost of 1.04 billion dollars
damage
 Typhoon Ike (August 1984) – category 4 typhoon and 1422 deaths with a
 Landers Earthquake (June 1992) – Magnitude 7.3, 3 deaths and over 400
cost of $1 billion
injuries