NATURAL DISASTERS-BALI, EARTHQUAKES
Figure 1. Balinese looking at the fallen debris
Natural disasters have had their fair share of ruining cities, world wide, developed or developing. From raging fires to devastating floods, natural disasters hit anywhere in the world depending of their environment. In 2011 there were 154 floods, 16 droughts and 15 cases of severe temperature and between 2000 and 2012, natural disasters caused $1.7 trillion in damage and affected 2.9 billion people. An earthquake is when the tectonic plates of the earth suddenly slip past one another. The surface where they slip is called the fault or fault plane. The location below the earth’s surface where the earthquake starts is called the hypocenter, and the location directly above it on the surface of the earth is called the epicentre. Sometimes an earthquake has foreshocks. These are smaller earthquakes that happen in the same place as the larger earthquake that follows. Scientists can’t tell that an earthquake is a foreshock until the larger earthquake happens. The largest, main earthquake is called the main-shock. Main-shocks always have aftershocks that follow. These are smaller earthquakes that occur afterwards in the same place as the main-shock. Depending on the size of the main-shock, aftershocks can continue for weeks, months, and even years after the main-shock.
Case study
On July 29th 2018 the Indonesian island Lombok was hit with a 6.4 magnitude earthquake, killing over 98 people, 200 locals and tourists were injured and more than 20,000 people were displaced from their homes. Majority of the victims were killed by falling debris (Figure 1)due to the collapsing buildings. Figure 2 shows that deaths occurred in all regencies and cities, of the 96 deaths in Lombok, 72 were in North Lombok, 16 in West Lombok (including seven in the Gili Islands), four in Mataram, and two each in Central Lombok and East Lombok. Lombok has been struggling with constant aftershocks and smaller earthquakes at a 5.4 magnitude effecting buildings in Denpasar (which is 157.8 km away from Lombok) which has lifted the death toll to over 300. The tides around Bali, Lombok and Gilli Islands are lowering causing major tsunami warnings which is causing the inability for large ships and other evacuation boats to come and collect locals and tourists. Indonesian authorities have confirmed some 5,000 tourists hoping to escape the island have been able to do so.
Figure 2. Shows where the 2018 Earthquake hit
As parts of Lombok no longer have any clean water at the moment, there is a high chance of the residents drinking river water that is filled with diseases and bacteria which can cause diarrhoea, skin infections, pneumonia and respiratory tract infections. This increases the morbidity rate which also puts their hospitals and population in strife. Every 8 seconds a child dies because of contaminated water and at least 2.6 billion people do not have access to running water. Most of them do not even have toilets and have to pass in open air, contaminating rivers, air and sewer systems. Officials said around three-quarters of Lombok’s rural north lost electricity after the initial earthquake, although power had since been restored in most areas. Since the traumatising earthquake, scientist have said that Lombok has been lifted 25 centimetres. This is shown in figure 3.
Figure 3 Shows the displacement of Lombok
Figure 3 shows the displacement of Lombok
But this is not the only traumatising disasters to happened Bali. On 26th of December 2004, the northern tip of Sumatra was hit with a 9.1 magnitude earthquake.Within 15 minutes of the earthquake, waves began striking the coasts of northern Sumatra and the Nicobar islands. Tital waves of up to 30 metres were recorded as the tsunami swept through Aceh, the hardest hit region of Indonesia.Around two hours after the earthquake struck, waves reached Sri Lanka, India and Thailand.An hour later they reached the Maldives, and more than seven hours after the initial quake, the tsunami was observed in Mauritius and along the east coast of Africa. its effects were seen as far away as Antarctica and North America, killing 168,000 people. Figure 4 shows the outcome of the 2004 Boxing day tsunami.
Figure 4. shows the before and after of the boxing day earthquake in 2004
The repairs as a result of these horrifying events are costing the Indonesian government billions of dollars which is effecting the population as the money has to be spread sparsely, putting more at risk of living under the poverty line. Bali is financially dependent on tourism and with the aftermath of the events, the rate of tourism has dropped dramatically, lowering Bali’s income which dramatically effects the population living under the poverty line. Studies show that already 162,051 people live under the poverty line in Bali which is 35% of the Balinese population. If the rates of tourism drop dramatically, the balinese locals will not have enough money to maintain stable shelter, a nutritious food supply and clean water, increasing the rates of malnutrition dehydration and homelessness.
HOW HAVE NGOS AND GOVERNMENTS RESPONDED?
NGOs that help natural disaster such as the America Red Cross, have website that educates the victims on how to stay safe and also has a donation site that raises money to help countries (such as Bali) recover they also donate food to the victims. The Australian government also provide necessities like food water and shelter to the ones affected if asked for help. This goes along with many other countries governments around the world. After the devastating Boxing Day Tsunami the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters was activated providing a wide variety of humanitarian satellite imagery to rescue organisations. The World Bank initially estimated the amount of aid needed, at US $5 billion. Numerous countries
Figure 4. US soldiers preparing supplies for victims provided help for relief and assistance (as seen in figure 4)
MOVING FORWARD
As Bali starts to repair after the traumatic events, tourism rates will start to grow increasing Bali’s income, allowing them to pay for more infrastructure and earthquake protection in their major buildings, which will effect them in the long run as it will prevent as much damage at the expense of further disasters. This way we can help recover and rebuild hospitals, homes and workplaces to improve the locals wellbeing. Balinese people will be able to pay for more things like education and necessities. We can help Bali by donating to pages like the Red Cross to help pay for supplies and volunteer rescuers to help the locals to build their homes again and clear the fallen debris. Organisations and governments can also put in some money to help Bali become what it once was.
dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog
dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog dog
References
ABC News. (2018). Boxing Day tsunami: How the disaster unfolded 10 years ago. [online] Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-24/boxing-day-tsunami-how-the-disaster-unfolded/5977568 [Accessed 17 Aug. 2018].
ABC News. (2018). Dozens killed, thousands flee in terror as big earthquake hits Lombok and Bali. [online] Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-06/indonesia-issues-tsunami-warning-after-quake-off-lombok/10076088 [Accessed 17 Aug. 2018].
ABC News. (2018). How the Lombok earthquake happened. [online] Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-07/what-creates-quake-risk-on-lombok/10082912 [Accessed 17 Aug. 2018].
Dosomething.org. (2018). [online] Available at: https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-disasters [Accessed 17 Aug. 2018].
Earthquake.usgs.gov. (2018). The Science of Earthquakes. [online] Available at: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/eqscience.php [Accessed 17 Aug. 2018].
Massola, J. (2018). Death toll rises, foreigners evacuated after Lombok, Bali earthquake. [online] The Sydney Morning Herald. Available at: https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/death-toll-rises-foreigners-evacuated-after-lombok-bali-earthquake-20180806-p4zvru.html [Accessed 17 Aug. 2018].
Who.int. (2018). WHO | Indonesia. [online] Available at: http://www.who.int/hac/crises/international/asia_tsunami/3months/idn/en/ [Accessed 17 Aug. 2018].