Earthquake Case Study:

LAquila, Italy
Where did it happen?
LAquila is a city located in southern Italy. It has a population of about
70000 and is surrounded by the Apennine Mountains. It sits upon a
hillside in the middle of a narrow valley, tall snow-capped mountains
flank the town.
Areas affected included the city centre of LAquila, nearby villages of
Paganica, and Onna. All villages in the valley along Strada Statale also
suffered, including medieval towns.
When did it happen?
Date: Monday April 6th 2009
Time: 3:32 am (Local Time)
Duration: 20 seconds with aftershocks for two days
Foreshock hit area at 10:00pm, earthquake hit at 3:32 am for a few
seconds, aftershocks occurred for two days. Management happened
right away in the form of 4000 workers clearing rubble, and for
searching for people for several days.
Why did it happen?
The Eurasian and African plates meet along a line which runs through
North Africa and crosses the Mediterranean near southern Italy and
Greece.
As a result two main fault lines cut across the Italian Peninsula, one
running north-south along the spine of the Apennine mountains and
another crossing east-west south of Rome and North of Naples.
LAquila sits in a valley in the central Apennine, north of Rome and is
built on a basin of salt.

What happened?
Before: building earthquake safe architecture.
During: First Response team sent to help (volunteers and paid
position).

 After: Fireman produce search and rescue, stabilizing fragile buildings.

Preparation: earthquake safe buildings
Prediction: An Italian technician, Giampaolo Giuliani, did predict the
event online but no one believed him and he was accused of scaring
the public for no reason.
No evacuation or warning
Local and regional aid:
Italian mobile companies sent free minutes, phones, SIM cards, and
credit to pre-paid customers, suspended billing and extending
coverage to homeless camps. Also created a donation line.
Italian poste: Set up post offices
Pay TV: suspended buildings, decoders to people to follow news, camps
Railway: offered carriages and free tickets
Transportation: toll-roads free of charge
Government: tax billing and mortgage payment suspended
International Aid:
Refused foreign aid proud people can deal with crisis. Asked the U.S.
to help to rebuild churches and heritages sites/town suburbs.

Who was affected by the hazard event?

Economic:
Cost Italy $15 billion
Thousands of buildings destroyed including tourist attractions
A bridge in Fossa collapsed
Broken water pipes
Fires destroyed buildings
Social:
308 deaths
1500 injured
65000 were made homeless
Aftershocks disturbed rescue efforts and lead to more deaths
People had to leave the area to find jobs
Environmental:
1000km square affected by surface ruptures, rock falls and landslides
Political:
Complain and protesting rallies to government action