Earthquake
What to know about the big quake that hit Turkey, Syria
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Monday devastated wide swaths of Turkey and Syria, killing thousands of people.
The quake hit at depth of 11 miles (18 kilometres) and was centred in southern Turkey, near the northern border of Syria, according to the US Geological Survey.
Many aftershocks have rocked the area since the initial quake. In the first 11 hours, the region had felt 13 significant aftershocks with a magnitude of at least 5, said Alex Hatem, a USGS research geologist.
Scientists are studying whether a magnitude 7.5 quake that hit nine hours after the main shock is an aftershock. Hatem said it appears to be the case.
"More aftershocks are certainly expected, given the size of the main shock," Hatem said. "We expect aftershocks to continue in the coming days, weeks and months."
Researchers said the earthquake was a strike-slip quake, where two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally, instead of moving up and down.
In this case, one block moved west while the other moved east – grinding past each other to create the quake, Hatem said.
The quake occurred in a seismically active area known as the East Anatolian fault zone, which has produced damaging earthquakes in the past.
Turkey had another major earthquake in January 2020 – a magnitude 6.7 that caused significant damage.
The earthquake was powerful – one of the biggest strike-slip earthquakes that has hit on land, Hatem said.
"On top of that, it's located near populated areas," she said.
Building collapses were reported in cities, including Diyarbakir, Turkey, and Aleppo, Syria.
Rescue efforts were also hampered by freezing temperatures and traffic jams from residents trying to leave quake-stricken areas.
Read more: Powerful quake rocks Turkey and Syria, kills more than 2,300
Post-Earthquake Cautions: Do’s & Don’ts
After an earthquake, it is important to be cautious and stay safe. Earthquakes can cause significant damage to buildings and human lives. Knowing what to do and what not to do after an earthquake is essential. Let's take a look at the do’s and don’ts after an earthquake.
Potential hazards of earthquakes
Earthquakes can have far-reaching consequences, both immediate and long-term. It can cause immense destruction to lives, communities, buildings, and infrastructure. In addition to that, an earthquake can also trigger landslides, floods, tsunamis, or other secondary hazards.
Human lives are vulnerable to earthquakes. Earthquakes can lead to serious injuries such as broken bones, concussions, and even death.
Earthquakes extensively damage buildings and infrastructure. Buildings may collapse due to shaking or be damaged by falling debris. Bridges, roads, and other transportation routes can also get damaged severely. Furthermore, fires can break out due to broken gas lines or other sources of ignition.
Earthquakes can also lead to environmental hazards, such as landslides, floods, and tsunamis. Landslides are caused by the shaking of the ground, which can cause rocks and soil to become displaced and slide down a slope. Floods can be triggered by heavy rains following the earthquake or by dams that fail due to shaking. Tsunamis are large waves caused by the sudden displacement of large amounts of water by the earthquake and can cause extensive destruction to coastal areas.
Finally, earthquakes can have long-term consequences such as environmental damage, economic loss, and psychological trauma. Earthquakes can cause air and water pollution due to the release of hazardous materials.
Read More: Earthquake Safety: Do’s and Don’ts during an Earthquake
Do’s and Don’ts After an Earthquake
Many people die by falling under the buildings demolished by the earthquake. Therefore, increasing public awareness is necessary to prepare for potential earthquakes and reduce damage. Check the following to know your steps after an earthquake.
- Try to stay calm and check the surroundings.
- Check yourself and others for injuries.
- After the shaking, wait for a while, then exit. Because hanging objects may fall from above after a while.
- Check that gas and electrical appliances are switched off. Also, check for any exposed pipes for gas or water leaks. If you can smell gas, open windows and get out of the home or structure. Get repairs done quickly.
- Turn off the main switch or fuse if there is an electric spark anywhere. Beware of damaged buildings.
- Listen to the radio or, if possible, contact others through mobile for further instructions from the authorities.
- Make a gentle tap on the pipe or wall to make your presence known during the rescue operation. Consider screaming as the last option. Because, while shouting, harmful dust can enter the mouth.Move away from building exteriors and power lines.
- If you are indoors, remain inside and move away from windows.
- If you are outside, move away from any building, infrastructure, tree, and power line.
- Don’t go near the coastline in case of a tsunami warning.
- Don’t try to drive until roads have been cleared of debris.
- Refrain from going sightseeing. Stay away from affected areas.
- Stay away from using elevators or escalators.
- If you suspect damage in the sewer, don’t flash your toilet.
- Cover your nose and mouth with your hand or a handkerchief if you fall into the dust.Engage yourself in rescue work. Help for evacuation of affected people to temporary shelters.
Read More: Landslide Safety, Preparedness Tips: Dos and Don'ts
Final Words
Bangladesh is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world due to unplanned urbanization, non-compliance with required building codes, and sprawling buildings and structures. Since an earthquake is a natural disaster, it cannot be stopped. Therefore, this disaster is possible only through strong and effective post-earthquake institutional management to prevent earthquake pre-preparation and damage.
All public and private organizations must be prepared in advance for earthquakes. That is why it is important to take proper steps for all the organizations, including necessary training to properly concentrate in the post-earthquake period. Development of pre-preparedness is absolutely essential as overall readiness for earthquakes in the current framework is very poor in Bangladesh.
So far, we have discussed the potential hazards of earthquakes and the steps to take after an earthquake. By understanding these post-earthquake cautions, you can better prepare yourself and your family for an earthquake.
Earthquake Safety: Do’s and Don’ts during an Earthquake
Earthquake is a kind of natural disaster that scientists have not yet figured out how to predict. An earthquake can destroy lives, property, cities, and civilizations at the same time. Bangladesh is at extreme risk of the earthquake as the country is unfortunately located between the Indian, Eurasian, and Myanmar tectonic plates. As a result, even moderate earthquakes can cause severe damage. While a large earthquake can cause terrible destruction of lives and structures. For survival during such a disaster, we should keep in mind some earthquake safety measures.
7 Do's and Don'ts During Earthquake
If you understand that an earthquake is happening, you must first try to stay calm to save lives and not panic in any way. Although our brains might not work properly during a disaster, we still need to stay calm and think to better handle the situation. Check the following tips.
Drop, cover, and hold-on methods
The best approach during an earthquake is the ‘drop, cover, hold on’ or ‘duck-cover’ method, as advised by the American Red Cross. That is, when the earthquake starts, sit on the floor, then get under a sturdy table or desk and take cover; choose a desk or cover in such a way that you can move with the cover if necessary.
Read More: 5.2 magnitude earthquake felt in Dhaka, other areas
If a building is earthquake-resistant, it rarely collapses. What happens is that various objects or furniture falling on the body is more likely to cause injury. So, to avoid them, it is important to take shelter under a hard desk or table at this time.
If you are in a wheelchair, lock or close the wheel and cover the head and neck with your hands. If in school, college, or other educational institution, students should take shelter under the hard table with a school bag on their head.
Use a pillow to support your head when in bed. You can take shelter by sitting near the inner wall of the house. Exterior walls or glass windows are dangerous. Stay away from them.
Turn off utility lines
Remember, one of the reasons for earthquake damage is gas and electrical fires. So, the gas stove in the kitchen and the electrical switches in the house should be turned off as soon as possible. Do not light the match or candle until you are sure that there is no gas leakage.
Read More: Death toll from Indonesia earthquake reaches 310 as more bodies found
Wait until the shake stops
If you are on the upper floor, you should wait until the shaking stops. When the shaking stops, quickly go down the stairs and take a position in an open place or a safe place. Avoid jumping the stairs.
If you are in an industrial factory, hospital, market, or cinema hall, do not rush or rush in front of the door. Sit where you are with both hands covering your head. Once the shake stops, it can occur again. So, take the opportunity to get out of the building and try to move to an empty space.
If you are near the sea or river, you should take or climb a high position as soon as possible. If you are outdoors during an earthquake, take shelter in an open area away from tall trees, tall buildings, electric poles, etc.
Stop the car
If you are in a car, pull over instead of blocking the road and stay inside. Stay away from bridges, over bridges, flyovers, underpasses, trees, electric poles, billboards etc. Being outside the car is more likely to get injured. Be careful of cars rushing from behind, and keep an eye on the rear mirror.
Read More: 252 dead as Indonesia earthquake topples homes, buildings, roads
Be prepared to deal with aftershocks
The “main shock” or main earthquake can be preceded and followed by several more mild to moderate earthquakes known as ‘foreshocks’ and ‘aftershocks’. If not careful, these can become even bigger dangers. Typically, the ‘aftershock’ of a large earthquake can last from the first hour to a few days.
Do not walk barefoot
During an earthquake, do not walk barefoot, but wear sturdy shoes to avoid injury from glass, metal, etc. Having an injury during this time will make the situation worse for you.
Do not use lifts
Stairs must be used to get down from high-rise buildings during earthquakes. Never use the elevator. When in an elevator, rush down to the nearest floor.
Read More: Earthquake rocks Nepal, six dead while in sleep
Final Words
Earthquakes caused huge death tolls in different countries in recent years. Increasing public awareness is essential in preparing for potential earthquakes and mitigating the damage. And these do’s, and don’ts during earthquakes will surely help an individual to stay safe and survive.
5.2 magnitude earthquake felt in Dhaka, other areas
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake was felt in Dhaka and some other parts of the country this morning (05 December, 2022), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
The earthquake was felt at 9:02 am, it said.
Read more: Strong quake shakes main Indonesia island; no tsunami alert
According to the USGS, the epicenter of the earthquake was at a depth of 10km in the Bay of Bengal. However, no casualties were reported so far.
Strong quake rocks Solomon Islands, sends people fleeing
A powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake jolted the Solomon Islands Tuesday afternoon, overturning tables and sending people racing for higher ground.
There were no immediate reports of widespread damage or injuries, although Australia's prime minister said a roof at its High Commission had collapsed. An initial tsunami warning was withdrawn after the threat passed.
Solomon Islands government spokesperson George Herming said he was in his office on the second floor of a building in the capital, Honiara, when the quake rocked the city. He said he crawled underneath his table.
Read more: 252 dead as Indonesia earthquake topples homes, buildings, roads
“It's a huge one that just shocked everybody,” Herming said.
“We have tables and desks, books and everything scattered all over the place as a result of the earthquake, but there's no major damage to structure or buildings,” he said.
Herming said the Solomon Islands, which is home to about 700,000 people, doesn't have any big high-rises that might be vulnerable to a quake. He said there was some panic around the town and traffic jams as everybody tried to drive to higher ground.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said all the staff of Australia's High Commission were safe.
“There are no known injuries but the roof of the High Commission annex has collapsed, which would point to likely damage throughout the city,” Albanese told Parliament.
“Staff have been moved to higher ground because there was a tsunami warning that was issued. Our High Commission is seeking to confirm the safety of all Australians in the Solomons. There are difficulties because phone lines have gone down. So there are communication difficulties there,” Albanese added.
Read more: Earthquake rocks Nepal, six dead while in sleep
Freelance journalist Charley Piringi said he was standing outside near schools on the outskirts of Honiara when the quake sent the children running.
“The earthquake rocked the place,” he said. “It was a huge one. We were all shocked, and everyone is running everywhere.”
The quake's epicenter was in the ocean about 56 kilometers (35 miles) southwest of Honiara at a depth of 13 kilometers (8 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially warned of possible hazardous waves for the region but later downgraded a tsunami warning as the threat passed.
The Solomon Islands sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a arc along the Pacific Ocean rim where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.
252 dead as Indonesia earthquake topples homes, buildings, roads
The death toll from the earthquake that shook the Indonesian island of Java leapt to 252 on Tuesday as more bodies were found beneath collapsed buildings.
The Cianjur regional disaster mitigation agency said on its Instagram site that the number of dead increased from 162 reported the night before. Another 31 people remain missing and hundreds were injured.
The city of Cianjur, south of Jakarta, was near the epicenter of the 5.6 magnitude earthquake that hit Monday afternoon. The temblor sent terrified residents fleeing into the streets, some covered in blood and debris, and caused buildings around the rural area to collapse.
One woman told The Associated Press that when the earthquake hit, her home in Cianjur started “shaking like it was dancing.”
“I was crying and immediately grabbed my husband and children,” said the woman, who gave her name only as Partinem. The house collapsed shortly after she escaped with her family.
“If I didn't pull them out we might have also been victims,” she said, gazing over the pile of concrete and timber rubble.
In addition to those killed, authorities reported more than 300 people were seriously hurt and at least 600 more suffered minor injuries.
162 dead as strong quake topples houses in Indonesia’s Java
A powerful earthquake killed at least 162 people and injured hundreds on Indonesia’s main island on Monday. Terrified residents fled into the street, some covered in blood and debris.
Many of the dead were public-school students who had finished their classes for the day and were taking extra lessons at several Islamic schools when they collapsed, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said as he announced the new death toll in the remote, rural area.
The toll is expected to rise further, but no estimates were immediately available because of the area’s far-flung, rural population. Roughly 175,000 people live in the town of Cianjur, part of a mountainous district of the same name with more than 2.5 million people. Known for their piety, the people of Cianjur live mostly in towns of one- and two-story buildings and in smaller homes in the surrounding countryside.
Kamil said that more than 13,000 people whose homes were heavily damaged were taken to evacuation centers.
Emergency workers treated the injured on stretchers and blankets outside hospitals, on terraces and in parking lots in the Cianjur region, about three hours drive from the capital, Java. The injured, including children, were given oxygen masks and IV lines. Some were resuscitated.
“I fainted. It was very strong,” said Hasan, a construction worker who, like many Indonesians, uses one name. “I saw my friends running to escape from the building. But it was too late to get out and I was hit by the wall.”
Residents, some crying and holding their children, fled damaged homes after the magnitude 5.6 quake shook the region in West Java province in the late afternoon, at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). It also caused panic in the greater Jakarta area, where high-rises swayed and some people evacuated.
Read: Violence, tear gas, crush: What's behind the Indonesia football stampede?
In many homes in Cianjur, chunks of concrete and roof tiles fell inside bedrooms.
Shopkeeper Dewi Risma was working with customers when the quake hit, and she ran for the exit.
“The vehicles on the road stopped because the quake was very strong,” she said. “I felt it shook three times, but the first one was the strongest one for around 10 seconds. The roof of the shop next to the store I work in had collapsed, and people said two had been hit.”
Twenty-five people were still stuck buried in the debris in Cijedil village, National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Abdul Muhari said earlier in the day.
Several landslides closed roads around the Cianjur district. Among the dozens of buildings that were damaged was a hospital, the agency said. Power outages were reported.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency recorded at least 25 aftershocks.
“The quake felt so strong. My colleagues and I decided to get out of our office on the ninth floor using the emergency stairs,” said Vidi Primadhania, a worked in the capital, where many residents ran into the streets and others hid under desks.
Moderate quake jolts Dhaka
A moderate-intensity earthquake jolted Dhaka and other parts of the country in the early hours of Friday.
The epicentre of the earthquake, measuring 5.6 on the Richter Scale, was in Mawlaik district in Myanmar, about 471 km east of the capital, said Iqbal Ahmed, in-charge of the Seismic Observatory and Research Centre under Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
Tremors were felt in Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh at 4.22am, said the official.
Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.
A 5 to 5.9 magnitude quake is considered moderate and can cause slight damage to buildings and other structures.
3 dead after 7.6 quake hits Papua New Guinea
At least three people are dead after a powerful earthquake hit a remote part of Papua New Guinea Sunday morning, authorities say. Others were injured and infrastructure damaged in the magnitude 7.6 jolt that was felt across the Pacific country.
The three people died in a landslide in the gold-mining town of Wau, said Morobe Provincial Disaster Director Charley Masange. Other people had been injured from falling structures or debris, and there was damage to some health centers, homes, rural roads and highways, Masange told The Associated Press.
Masange said it could take some time to assess the full extent of the injuries and damage in the region. But he said the sparse and scattered population and lack of large buildings near the epicenter in the nation's largely undeveloped highlands may have helped prevent a bigger disaster, given the earthquake was so strong.
Read:Earthquake kills 65, triggers landslides in southwest China
One resident from the town closest to the epicenter described his ordeal to the AP.
Renagi Ravu was meeting with two colleagues at his home in Kainantu when the quake struck.
Ravu tried to stand up from his chair but couldn't maintain his balance and ended up in a kind of group hug with his colleagues, while plates and cups crashed from his shelves to the ground, he said. His children, ages 9 and 2, had their drinks and breakfast spill over.
Ravu, who is a geologist, said he tried to calm everybody as the shaking continued for more than a minute.
Ravu said that about 10,000 people live in and around his town, which is located 66 kilometers (41 miles) from the quake's epicenter.
He said people were feeling rattled.
“It's a common thing that earthquakes are felt here, but it usually doesn't last as long and is not as violent as this one,” Ravu said. “It was quite intense.”
Ravu was sorting through the damage to his home, which he said likely included a broken sewer pipe judging from the smell. He said friends elsewhere in Kainantu had messaged him with descriptions of cracked roads, broken pipes and fallen debris, but hadn't described major building collapses or injuries.
“They are starting to clean up their houses and the streets,” he said. Communication seems to have been affected, he added, with some cell towers likely to have fallen.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake in 2018 in the nation’s central region killed at least 125 people. That quake hit areas that are remote and undeveloped, and assessments about the scale of the damage and injuries were slow to filter out.
Read: Strong undersea quake causes panic in western Indonesia
Felix Taranu, a seismologist at the Geophysical Observatory in the capital Port Moresby, said it was too early to know the full impacts of Sunday's earthquake, although its strength meant it “most likely caused considerable damage.”
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake hit at 9:46 a.m. local time at a depth of 90 kilometers (56 miles). NOAA advised there was no tsunami threat for the region.
Papua New Guinea is located on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, to the east of Indonesia and north of eastern Australia. It sits on the Pacific’s “Ring of Fire,” the arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where much of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic activity occurs.
Earthquake kills 65, triggers landslides in southwest China
The powerful earthquake that set off landslides and shook buildings in southwestern China killed at least 65 people and injured hundreds, state media said Tuesday.
At least 16 other people are missing a day after the 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck a mountainous area in Luding county in Sichuan province, which sits on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau where tectonic plates meet and is hit regularly by quakes. The temblor shook buildings in the provincial capital of Chengdu, whose 21 million residents are already under a COVID-19 lockdown.
Power was knocked out and buildings damaged in the historic town of Moxi in the Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Garze, where 37 people were killed. Tents were erected for more than 50,000 people being moved from homes made unsafe by the quake, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
State broadcaster CCTV showed rescue crews pulling a woman who appeared uninjured from a collapsed home in Moxi, where many of the buildings are constructed from a mix of wood and brick. Around 150 people were reported with varying degrees of injuries.
Also read: Southwest China quake leaves 30 dead, triggers landslides
Another 28 people were killed in neighboring Shimian county on the outskirts of the city of Ya'an. Another 248 people were reported as injured, mainly in Moxi, and another 12 people were reported missing.
Three of the dead were workers at the Hailuogou Scenic Area, a glacier and forest nature reserve.
Along with the deaths, authorities reported stones and soil falling from mountainsides, causing damage to homes and power interruptions, CCTV said. One landslide blocked a rural highway, leaving it strewn with rocks, the Ministry of Emergency Management said.
Buildings shook in Chengdu, 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the epicenter.
The earthquake and lockdown follow a heat wave and drought that led to water shortages and power cuts due to Sichuan’s reliance on hydropower. That comes on top of the latest major lockdown under China’s strict “zero-COVID” policy.
Also read: Strong undersea quake causes panic in western Indonesia
China’s deadliest earthquake in recent years was a 7.9 magnitude quake in 2008 that killed nearly 90,000 people in Sichuan. The temblor devastated towns, schools and rural communities outside Chengdu, leading to a years-long effort to rebuild with more resistant materials.