M 6 8 EARTHQUAKE STRIKES NORTHEASTERN MYANMAR A

M 6. 8 EARTHQUAKE STRIKES NORTHEASTERN MYANMAR A shallow (10 km) depth MARCH 24, 2011 Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction, University of North Carolina, USA

THE EARTHQUAKE: DOWNGRADED FROM 7. 0 TO 6. 8 The earthquake was about onehalf the size of the January 12, 2010 Haiti quake, which left 230, 000 dead.

LOCATION • The epicenter was near Myanmar's borders with China, Thailand, and Laos; about 589 km (365 miles) northeast of Rangoon, Myanmar’s capitol, and 772 km (479 miles) north of Bangkok, Thailand’s capitol.

A SHALLOW DEPTH INCREASES THE RISK • No significant damage to buildings and infrastructure occurred this time, but a shallow focal depth (E. G. , as in the CHRISTCHURCH, NZ quake) tends to increase the level of ground shaking and damage.

NO POSSIBILITY OF A TSUNAMI • The quake was too small and located too far inland to generate a tsunami in the Indian Ocean.

PAST DISASTERS • Myanmar was hit by cyclone Nargis, a powerful cyclone, which left an estimated 100, 000 people dead in 2008.

CYCLONE NARGIS STRIKES MYANMAR (BURMA) MAY 2 -8, 2008

CYCLONE NARGIS APPROACHING BANGLADESH: MAY 1, 2008:

INSTEAD OF THE TYPICAL PATH TOWARD BANGLADESH, NARGIS TOOK AN UNUSUAL EASTWARD TURN TOWARDS THE IRRAWADDY RIVER DELTA AND MYANMAR

CYCLONE NARGIS’ EFFECTS AND IMPACTS WERE TYPICAL • HIGH VELOCITY WINDS • HEAVY RAINFALL • FLOODING FROM STORM SURGE • LOSS OF FUNCTION: (HOUSING, AND TRANSPORTATION) • POWER OUTAGES • AGRICULTURAL LOSSES

BUT, GOVERNMENT RESPONSE WAS ATYPICAL • Efficiency of delivery of international aid was limited by government’s refusal to allow entry of foreign aid workers with material aid during the period when most needed.

NATURE’S ACTIONS DECREASED ODDS FOR SURVIVAL • Landfall was in the large, flatlying Irrawaddy River delta • A 3 -meter storm surge with 40 km inland penetration • 200 km/hr wind field • Too much rain in a hot climate

DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION DECREASED ODDS FOR SURVIVAL • Water and wind damage to thousands of homes • Loss of function of urban and regional transportation systems • Loss of rice crops

POLITICAL DECISIONS DECREASED ODDS FOR SURVIVAL • No evacuation of the people due to slow and inadequate warning messages. • Extent of damage and needs much greater than thought and prolonged due to slow decisions and limits on int’l assistance.

REQUEST FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE: MAY 5: • The military junta asked for international assistance on May 5 th • But, refused to allow it to happen or slowed it for 4 weeks or more in accordance with government policies of self-sufficiency.

FLOODING ON IRRAWADDY RIVER DELTA

THE IRRAWADDY RIVER DELTA WAS FLOODED INLAND FOR 42 KM

CYCLONE NARGIS: • The storm's 120 mph winds blew the roofs off hospitals, downed trees, and cut electricity to the 6. 5 million in Yangon. • Storm surge and torrential rain caused flooding.

CYCLONE NARGIS: YANGON: