What factors affect the impacts of earthquakes?
The quality and stability of the buildings in the area
Proximity to plate margin and margin type
How deep the focus of the earthquake is
Deep = less severe
Shallow = more severe
Geology of the area
Saturated soil
Solid bedrock
Liquifaction
Population density
Density of buildings - high- or low-rise
High or low income countries - level of economic development
Time of year and weather conditions
May affect people's ability to survive
Preparedness and access
Training and resources of resources of rescue teams
Accessibility to disaster zones
click to edit
Landslides / mass movement
Proximity to epicentre
Strength of the quake on the Richter scale, the higher it is the worse the impacts will be
HICs will likely have better ability to predict, monitor and respond to earthquakes and other hazards
More frequent and powerful along the Pacific Ring of Fire
Combination with other hazards, e.g. volcanoes?
High density likely to lead to high rates of death and injury
Cold or wet weather
Time of day
Are people at work or at home?
People out and about on the street?
Middle of the night, trapped in bedrooms?