Liquefaction

• Liquefied soil entered rivers, and untreated sewage from broken pipes polluted rivers, resulting in the reduction of some species such as the caddisflies
• Soil liquefaction


  Violent ground shaking causes saturated, loose soil to lose its soil structure and transform into a thick fluid
• Christchurch, New Zealand earthquakes triggered severe liquefaction, damaging over 60,000 residential buildings and infrastructure covering about one-third of the city area


  2010-2011
• Effects of soil liquefaction

  • Trees on liquefied soil sink in and tip over, damaging wildlife habitats, causing forest and biodiversity loss
• • Liquefied soil may enter rivers and smother aquatic plants, causing them to die
• • Sewage pipes may be broken and untreated waste materials may pollute rivers, killing aquatic species
• • Buildings and other infrastructure can sink in and tip over, making it difficult to rescue people or supply emergency aid
• • Electricity, communication cables, water, and gas pipes can sink in and snap, disrupting supply of these services
• • Roads and railways above liquefied soil can sink in and get damaged, making it difficult to rescue people or supply emergency aid
• • People can get trapped under collapsed buildings and infrastructure, resulting in injuries and loss of life