The secondary effects are what happen after the earthquake has hit a region. In the first place, more economically developed countries will have warned the general public and they can base their predictions on several instruments, which they place near the volcano, which then are transmitted to graphs. This is seismology. The higher the lines are on the graphs, the more active and powerful the earthquake is getting. Also, how many of these occur can tell us how active the volcano is getting. Based on this, scientists can send out warnings which show how dangerous it will be, ranging from 1-4. They make a zone where people are not allowed into and they evacuate the area. Also, in MEDC’s, the public response will be quicker and the country will have got food supply and bottled water ready as they new that an earthquake was going to happen, whereas in poorer countries, they need international aid and often that will take crucial time. Due to this, disease can spread due to infected water and there will be no food supply.
Some other secondary effects are that because building fall, they will smash electricity lines and also water pipes which means that there is no clean water and more importantly, not shelter and electricity. Also, buildings collapsing can cause fires started because they land onto gas lines under the road and also the things inside the buildings. Also, the water could mix with electricity to form fires.
On of the greatest causes of deaths when earthquakes occur, is the buildings not withstanding the shock and then falling over with people inside. In less economically developed countries, their buildings will be made of bad materials and they would not be able to withstand the shock waves when the earthquake occurs, causing them to fall over straight away. In countries like Japan, because they are used to earthquakes, their buildings are very earthquake proof and will not fall down so easily. Also, in Izmit, for instance, the buildings were very old though in the centre of the city, the buildings withstood it better because most of the buildings were made of wood, which made them more flexible, though it increased the chance of the fires occurring.
Overall, the main reason why earthquakes cause more damage and destruction in poorer countries, is because they are not so prepared and they do not have the money and wealth to develop their cities and also, to develop their knowledge of the earthquake and the area.
