The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a 7.0 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which occurred on January 12, 2010. Scientists had predicted major seismic activity in the area due to built up tension in local fault lines. While the timing could not be predicted precisely, the risk of an earthquake was well established. The effects of the earthquake were exacerbated by Haiti's poverty and lack of infrastructure, which made the country more vulnerable to natural disasters. Over 50 aftershocks followed, including a localized tsunami, demonstrating the interconnected nature of geological hazards.

1. Earthquak
e
(2010)
Haiti's

2. The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic
magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicenter
near the town of Léogâne, approximately 25
kilometres west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital.
The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time
(21:53 UTC) on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.

3. 1. Science helps us predict1. Science helps us predict
hazardshazards
 End of the seismic
cycle of Enriquillo-
Plantain Garden
fault zone may
involve a 7.2 Mw
earthquake.
 Geologist Patrick
Charles predicted
that there was a
high risk of major
seismic activity in
Port-au-Prince.

4. 2. Knowing hazard risk can
help people make decisions
 American geologists published a study in 2008
which concluded that Prince, who had not
suffered an earthquake of great intensity since
1751, could face a 7.2 magnitude earthquake.
However, they could not say exactly when the
earthquake would occur tomorrow or in 30
years.
 The forecast is made by measuring the amount
of accumulated tension in a particular fault,
then extrapolating the amount of energy that
would be released eventually.

5. 3. Linkages exist between3. Linkages exist between
natural hazardsnatural hazards
 On 24 January USGS reported that there had
been 52 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater
since 12 January quake.
 Beach of the small fishing town of Petit Paradis
was hit by a localised tsunami shortly after the
earthquake, probably as a result of an
underwater slide.

6. Humans can turn disastrousHumans can turn disastrous
events into catastrophesevents into catastrophes
 Less developed countries are
more vulnerable to natural
hazards (lack of
understanding, education,
infrastructure, building,
codes, etc).
 Poverty also plays a role (poor
building structure, increased
population density, lack of
communication and
infrastructure.)

7. 5. Consequences of hazards
can be minimized
 The devastating earthquake in Haiti was due to a shift in a
strange and different geological fault which had attributed the
phenomenon at first, geophysics professor Eric Calais said.
 A report prepared by the Russian Northern Fleet would indicate
that the earthquake that devastated Haiti was the "clear
result" of a test of the US Navy through one of its' earthquake
weapons.

8. By:
 Carazo Cabello, Laura.
 Conde Ponte, Ana.