Case Study: Kashmir Earthquake

Kashmir Earthquake
8th October 2005

This was a major earthquake located in Kashmir and  the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan.

The epicentre was Muzzaffarabad  in the Kashmir region of Pakistan, 80km north-east of Islamabad.

The 7.6 magnitude earthquake took place on Saturday 8th October at 0925 local time.  

The earthquake killed over 80,000 people. Pakistan's official death toll was 79,000, while officials say nearly 1,400 people also died in Jammu and Kashmir  in India and four people in Afghanistan.

Cause, prediction and preparation for the earthquake

The earthquake in Pakistan is the result of the collision of the Indian Plate north into the Asian plate.

North West Pakistan lies close to the boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates

This boundary is a collision zone where the intense stress between the two plates has created the Himalayan mountain chain by compressing and uplifting rock strata

The collision of the Indian with Eurasian plate has given rise to stresses that are responsible for many of the earthquakes in India, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The earthquake lasted longer 60 seconds rather than the 20-30 seconds that is normal in this area

Although scientists know that earthquakes are likely to occur in this area they do not know exactly when.

The area is very poor so most people are inadequately prepared for  large earthquakes.

There are few earthquake regulations for buildings and even these are rarely enforced.

Why was this earthquake so devastating?

It is thought to be the strongest earthquake to hit the region in a century.

Few buildings were built to withstand such a severe shockwave

It was followed by 20 powerful aftershocks which forced survivors to live outside

Many of the areas affected were in remote valleys which were often blocked by landslides which hindered relief efforts

Many children had just began their lessons in school buildings which collapsed during the earthquake. Over 8,000 schools were destroyed.

Effects of the earthquake

The earthquake killed over 80,000 people

Many children had just began their lessons in school buildings which collapsed during the earthquake. Over 8,000 schools were destroyed.

Children have been the biggest number of casualties as many had just started lessons when the earthquake struck and were killed when their schools collapsed.

An entire generation of young people has been wiped out in the areas worst hit (e.g Balakot).