Effects of Earthquakes

Primary effects

Occur immediately

All due to the shaking of the ground

e.g. buildings collapsing, destruction of roads and bridges.  

Secondary effects

Happen afterwards, but can be even more devastating

e.g. fire, tidal waves, disease and landslides        

Example: Northwest Turkey, Izmit 1999  

Primary effects:

- Over 20,000 deaths

 -More than 100,000 buildings were destroyed

- Over 100,000 families homeless.

- Transport links destroyed

- Landslides  

Secondary effects:

-Disease e.g. Cholera and typhoid (caused from polluted water)

-Services damaged e.g. water, electricity and sewage

-Intense heat and dust (people who were made homeless had no shelter, thus were exposed)