Repeated earthquakes and our preparedness

THE earthquake that struck Myanmar on Wednesday shaking the entire region is no doubt a reminder that such disaster may hit Bangladesh any time and what precautionary measures we have in place to handle the danger. Needless to say the event passed off without major causalities, except over 100 people injured and dents and tilts around half a dozens building leaving Bangladesh almost safe from what catastrophes it could otherwise wrought. It appears that frequent earthquakes in the region are only bringing the epicenter of the disaster closer to Bangladesh. In early January, another quake bumped the country with its epicenter in Monipur state of northeast India. This time it hits Myanmar at a place 450 km from Dhaka. In 2014 a very powerful earthquake devastated Nepal with several follow-up quakes that left the country to crumble from huge losses of infrastructure while human casualties ran over 10,000 as per government estimates. Bangladesh has a long history of earthquakes. In 1762, a major earthquake submerged over 150 km of land and killed 500 people in Dhaka, then only a small town. Between 1850 and 1950, 7 more earthquakes hit the region with varying magnitude from 7.0 to 8.7 on Richter Scale. Since 1900 more than 100 moderate to large earthquakes occurred in areas now Bangladesh, more than 65 after 1960. It brings to light the ominous sign of bigger danger to human life and property in the years ahead. Bangladesh is located on the Indian and Eurasian plates. The Indian plate is moving around 6mm each year towards the northeast and going under the Euro Asian plate. Then there is the Myanmar fault along the northern and eastern parts of Bangladesh. There is also a 300 km long Dauki fault along the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border and a 150 km long Madhupur fault that joins 300km long fault along the Surma basin. Finally, we have the Chittagong-Myanmar plate close to the Bay of Bengal. This cluster of faults in Bangladesh often causes mild to moderate earthquakes. Earthquake prediction is not possible, but Indian experts have already warned of a bigger earthquake with a magnitude of 8.2 or greater on the Richter Scale that may hit the already ruptured Himalayan region. Scientists recently warned Bangladesh is positioned at the juncture of several active tectonic plate boundaries to suggest that the country must do everything to avoid any large-scale catastrophe. Sylhet-Mymensingh region and areas around Chittagong, Dhaka, Comilla and Tangail are especially vulnerable to large-scale earthquakes.Our urban planning is poor; there is not enough open space in the city where people can seek shelter. Roads are narrow to carry out rescue operations. Hospitals are ill equipped, rescuers not enough in number and also not well trained. There is no enough equipment to quickly respond to such catastrophe. Our earthquake preparedness must be upgraded.