Rock Me Pamadeus Quiz | Disasters

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. It's 2007, and Pam is in Chincha Alta, sipping a glass of the national drink - a brandy called pisco - when the ground begins to shake and heave. What South American country is being struck by a very strong earthquake?

Answer: Peru

Lasting for about three minutes, the 8.0 earthquake that hit the central coast of Peru on August 15th, 2007 did its worst damage in the cities of Pisco, Ica and Chincha Alta in the Ica Region, and in San Vicente de Ca�ete in the Lima Region. There were at least a dozen aftershocks of 5.0 or greater magnitude, and a tsunami that flooded part of Lima's Costa Verde highway, and a substantial portion of Pisco's shore. 1,366 people were injured and 519 died.

2. In May of 2008, Pam, and her rainbow lorikeet Louie, are enjoying the bustling markets of Chengdu. They've sampled a bit of mapo tofu and yellow wine, purchased a book about Li Bai and a small cloisonn� bracelet, and are just getting ready to explore a teahouse when the ground underfoot seems to wobble. Pam glances around as the voices get louder and the bustle becomes a frenzy. What Asian country is about to suffer a catastrophic earthquake?

Answer: China

The earthquake that hit the Sichuan province of China on May 12th, 2008, killed over 69,000 people, left over 18,000 missing and injured almost 375,000 more. Alternatively known as the Wenchuan earthquake - after the epicenter which was located in Wenchuan County - the quake registered at 8.0, and lasted approximately two minutes.

The damage was extensive, leaving at least five million homeless, rivers blocked by landslides, thousands of schools collapsed, millions of livestock killed, hundreds of dams compromised to varying degrees and the Zipingpu Hydropower Plant damaged.

3. It's 2009, and Pam and Louie have visited Forte Spagnolo, the Fountain of the 99 Spouts, several churches - including Saint Bernardino of Siena - and admired the Luminous Fountain. Taking a break, Pam perches on a low stone wall, and the ground begins to shake. Overhead a flag of green, white and red catches the breeze as which European country suffers another earthquake?

Answer: Italy

On April 6th, 2009, a 5.8 earthquake occurred in central Italy, in the region of Abruzzo. The epicenter was near L'Aquila, the capital of Abruzzo, approximately 60 miles northeast of Rome. 308 people died, over 1,500 were injured and 65,000 were left homeless.

The quake was felt as far away as Rome, and aftershocks - some of which were nearly as strong as the main event - occurred for the next two days. L'Aquila has a history rife with earthquakes, including quakes in the years of 1315, 1349, 1452, 1501, 1646, 1703, and 1706.

4. In need of a true vacation, in 2009 Pam and Louie are visiting Upola, where they have explored Villa Vailima, which once served as the residence of Robert Louis Stevenson, but is now a museum. They have visited the new market at Fugalei, purchased a picture painted on siapo (bark-cloth) and enjoyed a palusami - a parcel of coconut cream wrapped in taro leaves. Truly feeling relaxed, Pam takes a sip of coconut water, and the earth beneath her feet starts to heave. What Pacific area is being hit with a submarine earthquake?

Answer: Samoan Islands

On September 29th, 2009, the Samoan Islands were hit with a submarine earthquake which had a magnitude of 8.1, and which spawned a devastating tsunami. 189 people were killed, hundreds more were injured and buildings suffered substantial damage. Four tsunami waves hit American Samoa after the earthquake, flowing inland about 100 yards, flooding streets and damaging utility services. Landslides occurred, and entire villages were swept away.

The hardest hit areas of Samoa were Fagaloa Bay on the east coast of Upolu, Lalomanu on the south east coast, and along the rest of the southern coast of the island. On Tonga, Niuatoputapu suffered the worst damages and fatalities.

5. It's 2009, and Pam and Louie got to Padang just in time to enjoy a dragon boat race, and afterwards, indulged in a meal of rendang - a spicy meat stew. Pam had the dubious pleasure of seeing - and smelling - a corpse flower, and has plans to visit the Berbak National Park. But, as she steps up to the counter at the currency exchange to get more rupiah, the ground trembles and she staggers back. What island is being beset by an earthquake?

Answer: Sumatra

On September 30th, 2009, a 7.9 earthquake hit Sumatra, killing over 1,100 and injuring another 2,800. Sumatra - and most of Indonesia - sits within a zone known as the "Pacific Ring of Fire". The epicenter of the first quake was 28 miles west-northwest of Padang, and just over 300 of the fatalities occurred in Padang. Landslides, building collapses, damaged water lines and utilities added to the chaos, and hampered rescue efforts.
A second quake, which measured 6.6, struck the province of Jambi in central Sumatra the next day.

6. It is 2010, and Pam and Louie are visiting an island whose culture is a mixture of French, colonial Spanish, African and native Ta�no elements. Somewhere nearby, a radio is playing a song by one of the island's favorite sons - Wyclef Jean. Pam has just purchased some banane pes�e (flattened plantain slices fried in oil) when the ground beneath her feet begins to move. What Caribbean country is going to be devastated by a huge earthquake?

Answer: Haiti

Hispaniola has had a history of destructive earthquakes, and the quake that struck on January 12th, 2010, left over 300,000 dead, more than 300,000 injured, and at least a million homeless. The epicenter was near the town of L�og�ne, about 16 miles west of Port-au-Prince (Haiti's capital). With a magnitude of 7.0, at least three million people were affected by the quake, and even with assistance from numerous nations, rescue and relief efforts were hampered by delays and obstacles due to confusion, congestion and lack of communication.

7. It is 2010, and Pam and Louie are in Arauco, enjoying the beach and a near Mediterranean climate - the Pacific ocean breeze warm and the air dry. Pam is waiting for the lunch she has ordered - empanadas and a Pisco Sour - and reading a novel by Gabriela Mistral, who was born in Vicuna. Suddenly, the earth seems to revolt, and Pam is in the midst of another earthquake in which South American country?

Answer: Chile

On February 27th, 2010, Chile endured an 8.8 magnitude earthquake. It lasted three minutes, and resulted in 525 deaths. Almost 10% of those in the affected regions lost their homes. The earthquake triggered a tsunami which wreaked havoc on several coastal towns in south-central Chile, and tsunami warnings were issued in 53 countries. The quake-spawned waves caused damage as far away as California and Japan.

8. It is 2011, and Pam and Louie are staying home. Pam is determined to visit some of the sites that visitors enjoy, and she has always put off exploring. The Canterbury Museum, Ferrymead Heritage Park and Christ Church are just a few of the South Island sites on her list. But, as she gets ready to head out, everything in her house begins to shake. Where is this earthquake occurring?

Answer: New Zealand

On February 22nd, 2011, a 6.3 earthquake struck New Zealand, killing 185 people and causing as many as 2,000 injuries. The epicenter was 6 miles south-east of the center of Christchurch. Property damage was extensive, and hundreds of aftershocks exacerbated the damage and thwarted recovery efforts.
Soil liquefaction and surface flooding also added to the devastation. The quake was felt as far north as Tauranga and as far south as Invercargill.

9. It is 2011, and Pam and Louie are tired from spending a day exploring the fascinating city of Miyako. A street vendor sold them a delicious meal of Takoyaki - a fried dumpling with a piece of octopus inside - and a Sapporo Draft beer. Feeling a bit dozy, Pam heads back to the hotel, but a rumbling underfoot slows her steps. What Asian country is being shook by an earthly quaking?

Answer: Japan

On March 11th, 2011 an undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan generated tsunami waves that reached heights of 133 feet. As of 2012, the 9.0 quake was the most powerful earthquake ever to hit Japan. It was estimated to have shifted the Earth on its axis by four to ten inches. Almost 16,000 people died, another 27,000 were injured and over 3,000 people were unaccounted for. Soil liquefaction occurred around Tokyo, and more than 1,000 aftershocks were recorded. Damage to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant complex was severe.

10. It is 2011, and after flying in to Ankara and traveling to Tatvan, Pam and Louie have taken the train ferry across Lake Van. In Van, Pam stops to catch her breath, and catch a bite to eat. She ends up ordering kefir, a kebab and a slice of baklava. As she takes a sip of the kefir, the ground underfoot seems to shift. Taking a deep breath, Pam steels herself to withstand an earthquake in which Eurasian country?

Answer: Turkey

On October 23rd, 2011, a 7.1 earthquake struck eastern Turkey, causing 604 deaths and over 4,000 injuries. Approximately 60,000 people were left homeless. It was a shallow quake, and produced significant ground motion across a very large area. The epicenter was near the city of Van, although the nearby town of Ercis was also hit hard.

Another earthquake hit Van in November of the same year, causing forty more deaths and hundreds of new injuries.

Source: Author beergirllaura

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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Rock Me Pamadeus Trivia Quiz

Pam has spent the past few years performing Mozart's Violin Concerto #12 in several different countries. Unfortunately, not only the audience quakes - the earth does as well!

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