Two earthquakes compared.
California
Iran
Here is your key question – write
it on your worksheet.
How can similar earthquakes in Iran and USA have very
different impacts on the people who live there?
Make your own fact file using the information that you will
see on the next few slides. Then prepare an answer to the
key question.
video
Location: Bam in Iran
Location: Bam in Iraq
Date: 26 December, 2003
Strength of earthquake on the Richter scale: 6.6
Number dead: 25,000
Location: California in USA
Date: 22 December, 2003
Strength of earthquake on the Richter scale: 6.5
Known as the “San Simeon
earthquake”
Number dead: 3
Here are some other reasons why the
earthquake in Iran was so devastating:
• The houses in Iran were poorly built. They
were made from mud brick which collapsed
straight away.
• When mud brick collapses it disintegrates.
• This leaves less air pockets, which might
have allowed some people to survive, even
though they were trapped.
Here are some reasons why the Californian
earthquake had less of an impact.
• Three lives lost due to the collapse of a historic
clock tower, sometimes called the Acorn Building.
It was made of wood and un-reinforced masonry.
• Within 12 hours, search and rescue crews found
all the quake's victims.
• About 75,000 homes and businesses lost power
after the quake, but service was restored to all
soon after.
• Minor damage to buildings could be repaired due
to payments from insurance companies.
• The Bam earthquake resulted from the movement of three
plates: the Arabian plate, the Asian plate and ‘the central
Iranian block’.
• A sudden movement along the Iranian block similar to the
processes that occur along the San Andreas Fault was to
blame.
The Citadel before the
earthquake struck
The Citadel after the 2003
earthquake
These are like the mud brick buildings that collapsed in Bam
Buildings like this in a rich country might topple, but they
don’t crumble. What would be your chance of survival in
this situation?
Things to consider:
• The time of day when the earthquake
happened ...
• In Bam, it happened at 5 o’clock on a
Friday morning. Friday is the Muslim day
of rest.
• Where do you think most people were, and
why did they die?
Other things to consider:
Shake out
Lesson summary
Write the lesson objective here
Write 2 aspects of the
lesson you enjoyed
And 3 things you have
learnt during the
lesson