Haiti vs. Chile

[The UnDoug]

Is the destruction in Chile not as bad as it was in Haiti (resulting from the earthquakes)?

I've not paid enough attention to the news, but it seems like there's not the huge outpouring of support for Chile. I'm hoping that's because the damage wasn't as severe.

[OWC Jamie]

Chile has building codes that reflect their active seismic history.
Haiti does (did) not.



edit: poverty kills

[cbelt3]

There are a number of conditions that caused the damage and death toll in Haiti to be greater than that in Chile, despite the Chilean earthquake measuring about 500 times stronger than the Haitian earthquake.

In no particular order they include:
* Chile's quake was deeper and further from land.
* Chile is used to earthquakes. They had the largest measured earthquake in 1960 (9.5 Richter scale .. note that Frisco in 1906 was 7.8)
* Chile has better building codes
* Chile ENFORCES building codes
* Chile has a higher functioning government, emergency services, military, etc...

Note also that Chile has experienced aftershocks in the area that are generally larger than the initial Haitian earthquake.

[vision63]

The Chilean Quake is devastating. The difference is you say you've not paid enough attention to the news. With Haiti, it was impossible to avoid the news because the devastation was (is) so complete. That doesn't mean that Chile hasn't been absolutely hammered because they have and millions have been affected and 800 dead is no joke. I do believe that people around the world are stepping up and sharing what they can for both countries.

[MacArtist]

Haiti was a catastrophe waiting to happen. They already were beyond poor. People living in shacks. Doubtful if building codes were enforced.

Chile experienced the same death toll as Haiti, you would have seen a massive aid campaign.

[cbelt3]

Oh, and BTW... did you know that Yellowstone is a shaking right now ?

(not a lot... shakes ALL the time)

[davester]

A lot of people just look at the Richter magnitude (8.8 for Chile, 7.0 for Haiti) and assume that the Chilean earthquake was worse. That is not the case. The Richter magnitude is really only of interest to geogeeks like me. The Mercalli Intensity is the measure that assesses the degree of actual ground shaking in population centers and was much higher for much of Haiti than it was for Chile. This was compounded by the lack of building codes and a functioning government, but make no mistake, the destructive force of the Haitian earthquake was much greater than the one in Chile.

[Speedy]

Chile needs help but after Haiti people aren't going to give much.

[Lux Interior]

cbelt3 wrote: note that Frisco in 1906 was 7.8

What is "Frisco"?