Tag: Earthquakes

Earthquakes: What Should Kashmir Do?

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We must retrofit and audit the existing infrastructure to ensure that they are able to withstand seismic forces, and we must change our construction practices to suit the seismicity of our zone, writes Uzma Khan
An undated photograph showing Christain missionaries treating people in an open dispensary in Baramulla. The people were injured in an earthquake.
As someone who understands the amount of destruction an earthquake can cause in an area where building codes are not followed, it is my responsibility to draw attention to the urgent need for earthquake-resistant construction across Jammu and Kashmir.
We were recently hit by a 6.5 magnitude earthquake on March 21, 2023, just two months after we heard about the devastating earthquake in Turkey. The earthquake hit 40 km SSE of Jurm, Afghanistan, at a depth of 187 kilometres. The Turkey earthquake has shown us the devastating consequences of not being prepared, and we cannot afford to be complacent any longer.
We live in a high seismic zone, with a fault plate running through our region, making us particularly vulnerable to earthquakes. Yet, we continue to build homes and public buildings that are ill-prepared to withstand the forces of nature. Our current construction practices, such as using masonry walls, flat slabs, and inadequate reinforcement, using improper materials, are not enough to withstand an earthquake.
It is concerning to see how we have become accustomed to spending our life savings on building houses that are not even earthquake-resistant. We focus on false ceilings and architectural designs while forgetting the most basic element: strength. Houses in Kashmir don’t have enough reinforcement and ductility for dealing with seismic forces.
A woman carrying her chid looks at the home they once owned in Uri. The home was destroyed on October 2005 earthquake that almost flattened a vast belt straddling the Line of Control.
To address this issue, we must prioritize the creation of resilient public buildings that can be used for community gatherings and events, so that we do not have to rely solely on our homes for weddings and funerals. Rather than focusing on the sizes of our halls and houses, we must prioritize making the structure stronger and more earthquake-resistant. Critical infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and government buildings, must also be made more resilient to withstand seismic forces.
Despite the clear evidence from the Turkey earthquake that hospitals built using base isolation techniques can withstand seismic forces and play a crucial role in saving lives, the situation in Kashmir is concerning. With just a magnitude 6 earthquake, there were already reports of hospitals in Srinagar developing cracks due to the shocks. This raises serious questions about the strength and resilience of our healthcare infrastructure in the face of a potentially catastrophic event, such as the Great Himalayan earthquake predicted by geologists. If our hospitals cannot withstand the forces of nature, how can we rely on them to provide life-saving aid when it is needed most? It is imperative that we prioritize the seismic resilience of critical infrastructure, including hospitals, to ensure that we are prepared for any seismic event. Failure to do so would be a grave disservice to our communities and put countless lives at risk.
An aerial view of the Mleech Mar, the first locality of Muslims in Srinagar.
We must retrofit and audit the existing infrastructure to ensure that they are able to withstand seismic forces, and we must change our construction practices to suit the seismicity of our zone.

Just like the story of the three little pigs and the big bad wolf, a house made of straw and twigs will not suffice if we have an earthquake in our midst. We need to prioritize strength and resilience in our homes and public buildings.
In addition to improving our construction practices, it’s important that we also prepare ourselves and our families for the possibility of earthquakes. Creating a family emergency plan can be an important step in preparing for natural disasters like earthquakes. One way to start is by making sure that everyone in your household is aware of the layout of your home and can identify any potential weak spots. This could include things like heavy objects that could fall during an earthquake or areas of the house that may be structurally unsound.
It’s also a good idea to identify a safe gathering spot for everyone in your household in case of an earthquake. This spot should be away from any potential hazards, like windows or tall furniture, and ideally in an open area like a park or field.
September 2014: An aerial view of an inundated Srinagar. KL Image: Special Arrangement
Another important part of a family emergency plan is knowing how to turn off utilities like gas, electricity, and water. This can help prevent further damage to your home in the event of an earthquake.
The recent earthquake not only revealed the vulnerability of our buildings but also the lack of awareness among people regarding earthquake safety measures. People were seen taking shelter under walls, standing near electric poles, and running inside their homes during the tremors. This demonstrates a clear need for educating the public about the dos and don’ts during an earthquake. We must know where to stand and what to avoid in such situations. It is crucial to wait outside in case of aftershocks to avoid further danger. It’s time we prioritize earthquake preparedness and equip ourselves with the knowledge to protect ourselves and our loved ones.
Uzma Khan
It’s important to remember that during an earthquake, panic can lead people to make dangerous decisions, so being prepared beforehand can help avoid that.
By taking these steps, we can ensure that we are better prepared for seismic events and protect ourselves and our loved ones.
Right now the real major challenge is to take this matter seriously and work towards creating a safer, more resilient Kashmir. Together, society can ensure that it is better prepared for seismic events and protect itself. Remember, earthquakes don’t kill, buildings do. Let us prioritize strength and resilience in our homes and public buildings and critical infrastructure.
Creating a safer, more resilient Kashmir requires action from all of us.
(The author holds a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering. Opinions are personal.)

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( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

April 30, 2023
Turkey’s tourism sector sees rebound after massive earthquakes

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Ankara: Turkey’s tourism industry is recovering from a major setback caused by the February 6 devastating earthquakes, business insiders said.
The number of tourism bookings rose by nearly 40 per cent in mid-March compared with that of last year, after a one-and-a-half months slowdown following the earthquakes, said Hamit Kuk, a consultant of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies.
The earthquakes struck at a time when the country’s tourism sector was restoring its losses from the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic had led to cancellations or postponement in tourism reservations both from overseas and local markets, Xinhua news agency quoted the consultant as saying.

However, the Turkish lira has strengthened the competitiveness of the country’s tourism sector.
Since 2022, the lira has lost about 70 per cent of its value against the US dollar.
Favourable exchange rates in the past year have further stimulated the demand for tourism services in Turkey, a tourist destination popular with Russians, Germans and Britons, among other foreign tourists, said Elcin Yildiz, an Ankara-based freelance tourist guide.
Ali Bahar, president of the Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said an upcoming nine-day vacation is also expected to boost the domestic demand for tourism services.
Many Turkish families are expected to combine the upcoming school break with the three-day Eid holiday, which begins on April 21, making it a nine-day vacation.

However, as Turkey’s tourism industry seeks to reach pre-pandemic levels of reservations, the impact of the earthquakes and the country’s economic woes on domestic demand should not be underestimated, according to Kuk.
The high inflation has led to a sharp decline in Turkish households’ purchasing power. In addition, the prices of the hotel rooms have increased by 15 to 40 percent due to the recent surge in operation costs, he explained.
Furthermore, there is no demand for tours in earthquake-hit eastern and southeastern Turkey, which are known for its cultural excursions, he said.
The tourism industry, which employs about two million people, plays an important part in Turkey’s economy.
In 2022, Turkey hosted 51.3 million foreign visitors, who contributed $46.3 billion in tourism revenues, up from $38.5 billion in 2019, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute.
Earlier, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that the country expects to host nearly 60 million foreign tourists in 2023, and 90 million in 2028.
The government expects tourism
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 24, 2023
Himalayan region including J&K vulnerable to earthquakes: Experts

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Srinagar, Mar 22: Stating that Jammu & Kashmir among many areas are highly vulnerable to earthquakes, the experts here on Wednesday said that instead of panicking, there is a need to come up with earthquake resistant human infrastructure that leads to the loss of lives and damage to the properties.
Pertinently, an earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale occurred on late Tuesday night in Jammu and Kashmir, triggering panic among the people.
Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a prominent Seismologist, Prof. Ghulam Jeelani (Department of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir), said that nobody can prevent earthquakes anywhere across the globe as it is a natural phenomenon, which would continue to take place.
“J&K being one among the regions that are highly vulnerable to the earthquakes would witness jolts again and again. Whenever the stress accumulates, the energy gets generated and thus gets released in the shape of earthquakes,” he said.
He added that no one can stop the occurrence of earthquakes, but there is a need to come up with the human infrastructure, which is earthquake resistant. “It is a fact that no one loses life due to earthquakes, but it is the human infrastructure that leads to the loss of lives as well as the property damage. Once people opt for taking all preventive measures while constructing their buildings, such incidents will also stop,” he said.
However, he said that there is a need to follow dos and don’ts in spirit during earthquakes to ensure safety.
As per the reports, around 60 earthquakes will hit J&K and Ladakh in 2022. The National Center for Seismology (NCS) data shows that J&K parts have felt tremors 9 times in March, 2023 so far.
Prof Shakil Romshoo, an earth scientist, told KNO that the entire Himalayan region, including Jammu and Kashmir has been historically vulnerable to earthquakes.

He said that the region has witnessed several mega earthquakes in the past. “Therefore, the government, civil societal and individuals should work hard to build a culture of disaster preparedness in the society in order to minimise human and infrastructure damage in the eventually of a high magnitude earthquake,” he said—(KNO)
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( With inputs from : roshankashmir.net )

March 22, 2023
Turkey estimates earthquakes loss over USD 105 billion

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Ankara: An official report has estimated that the twin earthquakes that hit southern Turkey on February 6 cost approximately 2 trillion Turkish liras (about $105.2 billion) for the country.
The report, announced by Turkey’s Treasury and Finance Ministry and prepared by the presidency’s department of strategy and budget, predicted that the financial burden caused by the tragic tremors could reach approximately 9 percent of the national income in 2023, Xinhua news agency reported.
The study noted that the support expenditures made to the earthquake area cost a total of 351 billion liras (about $18.5 billion) in national income.
Housing damage took the lion’s share in the earthquake’s total burden on the Turkish economy with 54.9 percent, and the monetary value was calculated as 1.07 trillion liras (about $56.4 billion).
The second largest cause of damage loss was the destruction of public infrastructure and service buildings, with estimated 242.5 billion liras (about $12.7 billion).
Private sector damage, excluding housing, was calculated as 222.4 billion liras (about $11.7 billion). This item included damage to manufacturing, energy, communication, tourism, health and education sectors.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Turkey’s southern province of Kahramanmaras at 4:17 a.m. local time (0117 GMT) on February 6, followed by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake at 1:24 p.m. local time (1024 GMT) in the Kahramanmaras Province.
The death toll of the quakes which affected 11 provinces of Turkey exceeded 48,000 while leaving tens of thousands of people homeless.

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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 18, 2023
Turkey earthquakes put spotlight on building code violations

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New Delhi: Over a month after three devastating earthquakes struck Turkey, experts are trying to piece together information on the compliance level of buildings in the geologically fragile region.
A recent report outlining preliminary findings of damage assessment of the earthquakes shows violations of the building code stipulations in the past two decades contributed to a large number of lives lost and extensive damage to infrastructure.
Over 48,000 people have died so far in the February 6 quakes and nearly 1.2 lakh people have been injured.
The report by a team of scientists from Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, and colleagues also observed that in Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, and Adiyaman provinces, the buildings were subjected to seismic shocks larger than what the Turkish Earthquake Code (2018) design levels provided for.
The experts noted that regardless of the unprecedented nature of the earthquakes, buildings should have endured and not suffered collapses the way they did.
The ‘Preliminary Reconnaissance Report’ by the international team said that buildings designed and constructed post 2002 could be presumed to perform better during the quakes than the older buildings.
However, the report shows that more than 1,000 buildings constructed after 2000 were heavily damaged or collapsed, violating the performance objective given in the code which assesses the seismic risk of a building with respect to its geographical location.
This, the report said, appeared to be an important observation demanding further investigations on the design and construction quality of those buildings.

“Inadequacies could also develop due to the presence of “soft stories,” which are entrances or basements not having continuity of its walls with those of the upper storeys,” explained Bora Sezer, a structural earthquake engineer based in Istanbul, Turkey.
“The structures were poorly built. Normally, checks should be done during the construction of the structures,” added Seda Torisu, a Turkish-origin geotechnical engineer, currently working in Japan.
“If there was no problem with the design of the structure, then problems happened during the application [or construction] of the design on site,” Torisu, a survivor of the 1999 Izmit earthquake, told PTI in an email.
The team assessed the performance of all kinds of infrastructure such as residential structures, bridges, tunnels, coastal structures and historic structures.
They found that inadequate foundations, as a matter of fact, were also the reason for “pancake” collapses of multiple buildings.
Pancake collapse refers to a type of structural collapse which occurs from the top down as upper floors settle into lower floors of a building.
Similar findings were outlined in the report as well, which divided the building damage inventory in the region into two, based on their construction periods — before and after 2002.
This is because “a significant change is believed to have occurred in Turkiye between 1998 and 2001,” the report said.
A modern earthquake code was put into effect on September 2, 1998. Two destructive quakes occurred on August 17, and November 12, 1999, in Kocaeli and Duzce, raising awareness for seismic resistance.
A modern reinforced concrete design guideline (TS-500) came into force on October 12, 2000, making use of ready mix concrete and ductile low carbon content steel as reinforcement. A Building Inspection Law was enacted on July 13, 2001.
“When we compare the pre-1998 earthquake regulation with today’s regulations and construction methods, there are serious changes made in terms of regulation acceptances, material quality and application details in construction methods,” explained Sezer, who is working with professors who revised The Turkiye Earthquake Code 2007 and 2018.
“For these reasons, we expect more damage to structures built before 2000,” Sezer told PTI in an email.
Examples of “serious changes” which were strictly unacceptable in the revised regulations includes reinforcement bars used for construction not being ribbed, insufficient stirrup tightening — provided to laterally confine steel reinforcement — insufficient concrete quality, and low quality of materials used.
“Damage to old structures has been enormous. However, we have also seen in these earthquakes that many new buildings built after 2000, which were not well engineered or not well-inspected or whose soil-structure relationship remained unestablished, were damaged or demolished beyond expectations,” said Sezer.
A strong example which demonstrates this point is that of Erzin in Turkey’s Hatay province, where there were no structural collapses or casualties.
“The local government did not allow the construction of structures in Erzin, which had not been well-engineered or whose ground-structure interaction was not resolved,” Sezer said.
“They also carried out strict controls on the construction processes of all buildings. In addition, the buildings in Erzin are low-rise and designed and built in accordance with the earthquake code and regulations,” he added.
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 14, 2023
Earthquakes | Finland delivered more tents, blankets and dry food to the earthquake areas in Turkey and Syria

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Foreign countries|Earthquakes
Previously, Finland provided Turkey with expert assistance and emergency accommodation capacity for around 3,000 people.
Finland at the turn of the week, delivered more material aid to the earthquake areas of Turkey, says the Ministry of the Interior.
Part of the aid is delivered from Turkey to Syria.
Material transports included, among other things, tents, blankets, heaters and dry food.
Previously, Finland provided Turkey with expert assistance and emergency accommodation capacity for around 3,000 people. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has donated one million euros to Turkey and Syria.
Destructive earthquakes ravaged Turkey and Syria at the beginning of February. As a result of the earthquake, a total of more than 50,000 people have died in the countries.
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( With inputs from : pledgetimes.com )

February 28, 2023
Economy – World Bank: earthquakes in Turkey caused damages of 34.2 billion dollars

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First modification: 02/28/2023 – 02:59
The World Bank estimated the economic cost of the damage caused in Turkey by the strong earthquakes that affected the southeast of the country at the beginning of the month at more than 34,000 million dollars, while warning that reconstruction could cost twice that amount.
The number could double. The World Bank estimated the economic costs of the February 6 earthquakes in Turkey at $34 billion, mainly affecting the southeast of the country.
“The report acknowledges that the costs of salvage and reconstruction will be much higher (than those caused by the damage), potentially twice as large, and that the associated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) losses will add to this cost,” the report explained. institution in a statement.
Humberto López, director of the World Bank for Turkey, declared that the earthquakes discounted at least half a percentage point in the expected GDP growth of Turkey, which would be between 3.5% and 4% for this year.
Of the cataloged damages, some 18,000 million dollars, more than half were in damages caused to residential buildings. The World Bank estimates that around 1.25 million people were temporarily left homeless due to damage to their homes.
The institution already announced on February 9 an initial aid package of 1,780 million dollars for the reconstruction and rescue efforts.
People look at the debris left behind by flooding in the town of Bozkurt, in Kastamonu province, Turkey. August 13, 2021. © Can Erok / Demiroren Visual Media via Reuters
On the other hand, the situation in Syria was “really catastrophic,” said Anna Bjerde, World Bank Group vice president for Europe and Central Asia. The Bank will publish a separate estimate of the damage in Syria on Tuesday.

The earthquakes, measuring 7.7 and 7.6, caused more than 44,000 deaths in Turkey alone. In Syria, almost 6,000 deaths have been registered. According to the World Bank report, more than 7,500 aftershocks occurred after the movements, which is the largest catastrophe of its kind in Turkey in more than 80 years.
with Reuters
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( With inputs from : pledgetimes.com )

February 28, 2023
Massive earthquakes can hit these parts of India any time, warns NGRI- Details Here – Kashmir News

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Massive earthquakes can hit these parts of India any time, warns NGRI- Details Here
The National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) on Tuesday predicted massive earthquakes in the Himalayan region with the potential to affect Uttarakhand and Nepal in the near future. It, however, added that strong building structures can prevent loss of property as well as life.
While speaking to media, NGRI’s chief scientist Dr N Purnachandra Rao said that Earth’s surface comprises various plates that are constantly in motion and the Indian plate is moving about 5 cm per year, leading to accumulation of stress along the Himalayas.
The accumulated stress increases the possibility of a greater earthquake, he said.
We have a strong network of 18 seismograph stations in Uttarakhand. The region referred to as the seismic gap between Himachal and western part of Nepal including Uttarakhand is prone to earthquakes that might occur at any time,” added Dr N Purnachandra Rao.
The NGRI scientist stressed that the earthquakes can hit with magnitude as strong as 8 on the Richter Scale.
Hyderabad| Earth’s surface comprises various plates that are constantly in motion. The Indian plate is moving about 5 cm per year, leading to accumulation of stress along the Himalayas increasing the possibility of a greater earthquake: Dr N Purnachandra Rao, Chief Scientist,NGRI pic.twitter.com/YCwCInLcm8
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2023
Talking about the deadly earthquakes in Turkey recently, he said that the damage was more in the country because of the poor quality of buildings.
We can’t stop earthquakes but we can prevent loss. There are guidelines issued by the Government of India for construction of buildings in these earthquake prone areas, so public should follow those guidelines,” he advised. (Times Now)

Post Views: 3,252

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( With inputs from : kashmirnews.in )

February 21, 2023
WHO: Turkey, Syria earthquakes ‘worst natural disaster’ in European region in a century

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The powerful earthquakes that struck central Turkey and northwest Syria just over a week ago are the “worst natural disaster in the WHO European Region for a century,” said Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization’s regional director for Europe.
“We are still learning about its magnitude. Its true cost is not known yet,” Kluge said during a press briefing today.
The WHO’s European Region includes 53 European and Central Asian countries, including Turkey.
More than 31,000 people are confirmed dead in Turkey, and nearly 5,000 lost their lives across the border in Syria, he said, adding that the figures are expected to rise further. He added that 26 million people across both countries are in need of humanitarian assistance.
The WHO launched a $43 million appeal to support the earthquake response, with likely more to come.
“I expect this to at least double over the coming days as we get a better assessment of the massive scale of this crisis and the needs,” Kluge said.
With water and sanitation facilities being hit, concerns are mounting over health issues, including the spread of infectious diseases. Health care facilities have also been gravely damaged.
“According to the Turkish authorities, an estimated 80,000 people are in hospital, placing a huge strain on the health system, itself badly damaged by the disaster,” Kluge said.

“We have initiated the largest deployment of Emergency Medical Teams in the WHO European Region in our 75-year history,” he added. Their goal is to support the damaged medical facilities, focusing on the high number of trauma patients and those with catastrophic injuries.

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( With inputs from : www.politico.eu )

February 15, 2023
Why anger is growing in Turkey a week after catastrophic earthquakes – podcast

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In the past week the death toll from the earthquakes that hit Syria and Turkey, flattening buildings and laying waste to towns and cities, has rocketed.
Journalist Ruth Michaelson has been travelling around the devastated area, meeting survivors who have been waiting for days for rescue and relief efforts to reach them. One man told her how he waited five days for his in-laws to be pulled from the rubble, another that he had to not only help extract his grandparents’ bodies from the rubble but drive them to the graveyard himself. The long wait for support is taking its toll.
There is a growing frustration in Turkey with the government of President Erdoğan – who himself came to power after dissatisfaction at how a previous administration dealt with an earthquake. Meanwhile in Syria, the US has had to make an exemption to its sanctions to allow aid through, while a rebel leader previously affiliated with al-Qaida has called for international aid. So how likely is it that the survivors will get the help they need?

Photograph: Svet Jacqueline/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock
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( With inputs from : www.theguardian.com )

February 14, 2023