During an earthquake, there are many ways by which one can get hurt (many times, fatally) 1. People inside buildings could get hurt (even critically) by fall of objects/walls/ceilings 2. People outside the buildings could get hurt by falling debris from damaged buildings, glasses etc. 3. People traveling could get hurt by their vehicles falling off the tracks,…
The most common ways to identify the onset of an earthquake would be: ● A feeling of shaking of the ground below you, if you are sitting/standing. The most common feeling is – as if the person is feeling giddy. ● Swinging of overhead hanging stuff, e.g. fans, chandeliers etc. However, in this situation, you should distinguish…
The implications of “aftershocks” are the following: ● Structures which are not severely damaged during the main earthquake could now get damaged during one of the “aftershocks” – as they are getting continuously weakened by the earthquake and the “aftershocks”. ● While rescue teams are trying to search through the debris of fallen buildings/bridges etc for trapped people, an…
Earthquakes are also characterized by aftershocks. After any major seismic activity below the earth, the new order might take a while to finally settle down. During this time, there might be some more activity below the earth (sort of “adjusting” of the new positions for the various plates, layers etc.) These activities result in several…
The most common kinds of loss that are caused by an earthquake (depending on the severity) are: Damage to structures Causing partial or total collapse, damage to road and rail network, damage to utility carriers etc. Sea activity Water level in the sea could rise suddenly, causing very high waves, several meters in height, which…
Usually, areas around fault-lines are more prone to earthquakes. Some of the major fault lines are around: 1. Italy (hit in 1980; magnitude: 7.2) 2. Hayward, San Francisco in California (hit in 1906 at San Francisco; magnitude: 7.8 and again in 1989 at Loma Preita; magnitude: 6.9) 3. Himalayan region (hit several times since 1999, at various places spanning…
Some of the earthquakes in recent times have been (not in any particular order): 1. El Salvador; In 2001; Magnitude: 7.7 2. S. Peru; In 2001; Magnitude 7.9 3. Algeria; In 2003; Magnitude 6.8 4. Indonesia: In 2004; Magnitude 9.0 5. India; In 2001; Magnitude 8.1 6. China – Sichuan Province; In May 2008; Magnitued 8.1; More than 68,000 dead, and, 3,50,000 injured
The impact of an earthquake (at any location) is characterized by two primary characteristics: Intensity This measures the magnitude of the event. Higher is the value, the bigger is the magnitude. The most common scale used for measuring an earthquake is Richter Scale. It should be understood that Richter scale is a logarithmic scale. What this…
Earthquakes refer to shaking of earth. There is continuous activity going on below the surface of the earth. There are several large plates (size of continents) below the surface of the earth, which move (at a very slow speed). As a part of this movement, sometimes, they collide against each other. And, after the collision,…
If you wish to be actively involved in a disaster area, it is important that you do this through an established group, rather than going it alone. Numerous individuals and small organisations getting involved can be more problematic than supportive. Governments and their administrations and major aid agencies already working to capacity to bring relief…