Disaster Management · TEE · papers
Q4A · Describe in detail any four types of impact observed in reference to topography and g…
2023-02-07 · Semester V/VII re-exam
Actual older TEE paper · 100 marks · Q1 compulsory; any four of Q2–Q7
Q4A. Describe in detail any four types of impact observed in reference to topography and ground profiling due to earthquake. [10 marks]
Answer
Definition. Earthquake damage results from shaking and ground failure, followed in some cases by cascading hazards such as fire, landslides and tsunami.
| Effect | Mechanism | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Ground shaking | Seismic waves accelerate the ground. | Structures experience inertia forces and may crack or collapse. |
| Surface rupture | Fault displacement reaches the surface. | Roads, pipelines and foundations crossing the rupture may break. |
| Liquefaction | Shaking raises pore-water pressure in susceptible saturated loose soils. | Soil loses effective strength; structures can settle or tilt. |
| Landslide / rockfall | Shaking destabilises slopes. | Settlements and roads may be buried or cut off. |
| Tsunami | Some undersea earthquakes displace the water column. | Coastal inundation; not every earthquake generates a tsunami. |
| Fire and leaks | Utilities or industrial equipment break. | Fire, contamination and loss of water or power. |
Impacts in an exam answer
Physical: building and lifeline damage. Social: death, injury, displacement, disrupted education and trauma. Economic: direct repair losses and indirect loss of production or wages. Ecological: slope disturbance, habitat damage and contamination. Disease risk can increase where safe water, sanitation and healthcare fail; an epidemic is not inevitable after every earthquake.