Though the earthquake in 2010 measured 7.0 on the Richter scale, it was more devastating than Saturday's earthquake which was of magnitude 7.2.
The devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the Caribbean country Haiti on Saturday has reportedly taken around 1,300 lives with thousands more injured, and mass-scale destruction to property. Earlier, in 2010 a devastating earthquake had destroyed Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince and killed more than 2,00,000 people.
Though the earthquake in 2010 measured 7.0 on the Richter scale, it was more devastating than Saturday's earthquake which measured 7.2 on the Richter scale. As per weather experts, Saturday's earthquake released twice as much energy as the previous one. It was felt in Jamaica, more than 200 miles (320 km) away.
The initial study suggests that since Saturday's earthquake took place far from the capital town and its epicentre was a mountainous location that was sparsely inhabited, could be a reason why the impact was lesser than that of the 2010 calamity.
So, why is Haiti prone to earthquakes, and why each time there is so much devastation? Experts suggest it's a combination of factors that include a seismically active area, a high population density of 11 million people, and buildings that are often not designed to withstand earthquakes.
(With Reuters Inputs)
1. Earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck Haiti on Saturday
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On Saturday, an earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck Haiti killing around 1,300 people with thousands more getting injured, and mass-scale destruction to property. More than a decade ago, in 2010 a devastating earthquake had destroyed Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince and killed more than 2,00,000 people.
So, why is Haiti prone to earthquakes, and why each time there is so much devastation? Experts suggest it's a combination of factors that include a seismically active area, a high population density of 11 million people, and buildings that are often not designed to withstand earthquakes.
(Image Source: Reuters)
2. Why is Haiti prone to earthquakes?
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Earthquakes happen when two tectonic plates - separate parts of the Earth's crust suddenly slip past each other. Though friction holds these two plates together, the sudden release of energy in seismic waves causes the shaking associated with earthquakes.
(Image Source: Reuters)
3. Haiti sits near intersection of two tectonic plates
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Haiti sits near the intersection of two tectonic plates that make up the Earth's crust - the North American plate and the Caribbean plate. Earthquakes may occur when those plates move against each other and create friction.
(Image Source: Reuters)
4. Haiti occupies western part of Hispaniola
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Haiti occupies the western part of Hispaniola, a Caribbean island it shares with the Dominican Republic. Hispaniola is sandwiched between two fault systems, the Septentrional fault zone to the north, and the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault zone to the south.
(Image Source: Reuters)
5. Saturday's quake caused due to Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault zone
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Saturday's 7.2 magnitude earthquake likely occurred along the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault zone, which cuts across Haiti's southwestern Tiburon Peninsula, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). It's the same fault zone along which the devastating 2010 earthquake occurred.
(Image Source: Reuters)
6. Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault zone cause of three other big earthquakes
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The Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault zone is likely to be the source of three other big earthquakes in Haiti between 1751 and 1860, two of which destroyed Port-au-Prince.
(Image Source: Reuters)
