NOTABLE DISASTERS OF 2012: HIGHLIGHTS (In Reverse Chronological Order Within Each Natural Hazard, Technological Hazard, or Environmental Hazard Category) More lectures at Disasters Supercourse - http://www.pitt.edu/~super1/collections/collection52.htm Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction, University of North Carolina, USA

CHILE THE PHILIPPINES IRAN PART 8 EARTHQUAKES CHILE THE PHILIPPINES IRAN

TWIN MODERATE-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKES STRIKE IRAN SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2012

LOCATION MAP

SEISMICITY MAP OF IRAN

Iran has many well-known seismically active faults, which have generated devastating earthquakes in recent years, including a M6.6 earthquake in 2003 that destroyed the city of Bam and killed more than 31,000 people

FACT: KNOWING WHERE THE SEISMICALLY ACTIVE FAULTS ARE AND BEING UNPREPARED FOR THE INEVITABLE EARTHQUAKE WILL LEAD TO AN UNNECESSAY DISASTER

THE EARTHQUAKES (Source: US Geological Survey) Saturday's first quake of M6.4 struck just before 5 pm 60 km (37 miles) northeast of the city of Tabriz at a depth of 9.9 km (6.2 miles). Saturday’s second quake of M6.3 struck 49 km (30 miles) northeast of Tabriz 11 minutes later at a similar depth.

The earthquakes struck in East Azerbaijan province, a mountainous region that neighbors Azerbaijan and Armenia to the north and is predominantly populated by ethnic Azeris, a minority group.

INITIAL IMPACTS Over 1,000 villages were affected, with over 5,000 buildings in 100 villages partially or totally destroyed as concrete-block and mud-brick buildings collapsed. At least 20 villages could not be reached because of impassable roads. People in some villages were in dire need of food and drinking water.

VARZAGHAN: DAMAGE

VARZAGHAN: DAMAGE

INITIAL IMPACTS Over 300 dead (more likely), with over 60 percent being women and children, partly due to the time of day (5 PM) that the quake struck. Over 1,800 injured.

INITIAL IMPACTS (continued) 36,000 people in the quake-hit area were provided with emergency shelter. Many slept on the street and in parks. A field hospital set up in Varzaghan on Sunday to treat the injured was staffed by just two doctors, but ,with shortages of medical supplies and food, was hard pressed to meet the sudden need.

INITIAL IMPACTS (continued) Hospitals in Tabriz (49 km distance) took in many of the injured from the surrounding villages. Water, electricity, and phone lines in the Varzaghan area were all down, further hindering rescue efforts Preliminary loss estimate: $650 million USD

VARZAGHAN: INITIAL S & R MOSTLY BY RESIDENTS; AUG 11th

A CONTROVERSIAL DECISION Search and rescue was stopped after 24 hours and a 2-day period of mourning started

THIS DISASTER EXPOSED POLICY FLAWS UN—PROTECTED UN—PREPARED UN--ABLE TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY

FACT: VILLAGE HOUSES WITH LITTLE OF NO EARTHQUAKE RESISTANCE WILL COLLAPSE, CAUSING DEATHS AND INJURIES The 5 PM occurrence) instead of a 10 PM occurrence) reduced the number of deaths.

FACT: EVEN FOR THE WORLD’S BEST FIRST RESPONDERS, COLLAPSED BUILDINGS, IMPASSABLE ROADS, 60 AFTERSHOCKS, and NIGHTFALL WILL ALWAYS SLOW SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS AND EXACERBATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

IRANIAN RED CRESCENT WILLING TO ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL AID "We would welcome help by any country," said Iran's parliament speaker, Ali Larijani, during his visit to the earthquake-stricken area on Tuesday, August 14th.

INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE STARTS The Turkish Red Crescent offered to send a truck with emergency supplies to the border. Turkey's Foreign Ministry said it had informed Iran it was ready to help

RED CRESCENT ASSETS DEPLOYED 1,100 Red Crescent workers were deployed with 44,000 food packages and 5,600 tents for temporary shelter

INTERNATIONAL AID A spokeswoman for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said that they are working closely with Iran's Red Crescent and have set up 6,000 tents to accommodate 16,000 displaced people and are providing basic supplies and blood donations for the victims.

M7. 2 EARTHQUAKE STRIKES CHILE NEAR THE LOCATION OF THE M8 M7.2 EARTHQUAKE STRIKES CHILE NEAR THE LOCATION OF THE M8.8 FEBRUARY 2010 QUAKE March 25, 2012

The M7.2 earthquake occurred on Sunday; 106 km (64 miles) west northwest of Talca, a city of 200,000+, and 226 km (134 miles) south of Santiago at a depth of 30 km (19 miles)

TALCA: FRIGHTENED RESIDENTS GATHER OUTSIDE

EARLY REPORTS NO MAJOR DAMAGE OR DEATHS; NO TSUNAMI

THE FEBRUARY 2010 EARTHQUAKE

M8.8 EARTHQUAKE STRIKES CENTRAL CHILE: 3:34 am on February 27, 2010 Subduction Zone Quake 500 Times More Energy than the M7.0 Haiti Quake 800+ Deaths; 500+ Injured Numerous Aftershocks Tsunami Waves Traveled Across Pacific Estimated Loss: $30 Billion

LOCATION: 330 KM (200 MI) FROM SANTIAGO

MAGNITUDE 6.8 EARTHQUAKE STRIKES THE PHILIPPINES February 6, 2012

THE PHILIPPINES PLATE: AN ACTIVE PART OF THE “RING OF FIRE”

LOCATION MAP

LOCATION 75 km (44 miles) north of Dumaguete in Negros Oriental and 660 km (400 miles) SE of Manila Depth of 48 km (29 miles)

2012 EARTHQUAKE Mw 6.8 Stricken Area: Provinces of Negros Oriental and Cebu Hardest hit City: Guihulngan, a mountainous town in Negros Oriental

It slowed, but did not kill the Philippines’ recovery from WW II 1948 EARTHQUAKE: A M8.2 QUAKE OCCURRED IN THE NEGROS ORIENTAL AREA IN 1948 It slowed, but did not kill the Philippines’ recovery from WW II

SOCIETAL IMPACTS

INITIAL REPORTS OF SOCIETAL IMPACTS Communication disrupted Panic in Cebu, a coastal town, due to unfounded rumors of a large tsunami Looting in Guihulngan hindered S&R efforts

CEBU: PEOPLE SCRAMBLING DUE TO FALSE RUMORS OF A TSUNAMI

INITIAL REPORTS OF SOCIETAL IMPACTS Over 200 aftershocks—some reaching M6.2-- hindered S&R and exacerbated damage Widespread power outages At least 43 dead, but this toll will likely rise due to the large number of missing people

INITIAL REPORTS OF SOCIETAL IMPACTS Ground shaking and landslides destroyed buildings and infrastructure Rain-induced landslides buried miners in Pantukan on Mindanao Landslides buried 30 homes in the village of Planas in Negros Oriental

INITIAL REPORTS OF SOCIETAL IMPACTS Death toll from another landslide in the mountain village of Solongon is not yet known. School and college students were killed as buildings collapsed Distribution of food and medicine hindered by impassable roads and damage to bridges

CEBU: PEOPLE EVACUATED TALL BUILDINGS AFTER MAIN SHOCK

NEGROS ORIENTAL: DAMAGE TO ROADS

NEGROS ORIENTAL: DAMAGE TO ROADS

DAMAGE TO ROADS

PANTUKAN: SEARCH AND RESCUE ACTIVITIES TO SAVE TRAPPED MINERS