The Nepal quake fresh on every mind, collective thoughts now largely loom around the preparedness back home in the event of a catastrophe of such deadly force and destruction on an unprecedented level of lives and things.
First off, let’s take into account the universally accepted and scientifically-backed truth with regards to earthquakes.
It is established by experts and researchers that seismic activities no matter how deeply and comprehensively studied over long months and years, its exact time for hit in a particular location cannot be pinpointed or predicted – disappointingly true and witnessed over many years past.
Secondly, it is without need for any expert or scientifically-proven opinion to see clear as day that earthquake does not kill; it is the falling and breaking structures during an earthquake that cause the loss of lives.
Leaving aside Mother’s unpredictable Nature, for all of humanity put at the mercy of these unstoppable seismic tremors, the only defense against it remains to be one and only one… that of making an educated stand.
It is proven in many instances globally that earthquake-resilient measures adopted in buildings have countered to good extent in reducing otherwise the total destruction that will be caused by earthquakes.
According to GeoHazards, the U.S, New Zealand, Japan, Turkey (particularly Istanbul) and Chile are all high-risk countries where tectonic plates are under strain but they have taken steps to prepare buildings and educate the people in order to mitigate the consequences of a big quake.
Earth quake is not really the novelty event in this country either with the 2009 and 2011 episodes remaining very stark evidences and more than a few to recollect in the past.
However, apart from the 30 second or so public message aired on BBS TV on how to act ‘during’ an actual earthquake, the much urgently needed measures do not seem to be in initiation anywhere. And if there are any activities germinating toward it, perhaps they are not meant to be public knowledge yet, as they definitely would have been the spice of conversation for any and all unavoidably made aware of a huge calamity in a neighboring country.
Elsewhere, countries that are far more technologically advanced have instituted every disaster mechanisms and practices. They range from strict building codes to having regular drills in practice to face disasters such as fire and earthquakes. Back home such practices as emergency drills can be given higher importance and put to practice in schools, offices and big housing colonies.
The trend is rather more disturbing than comforting as buildings as tall as six storeys or more keep sprouting in the urban areas while poorly constructed structures continue to flourish in the rurals. It is of course not an opposition against builders who impressively raised such heights or the authority in effect that has approved the fine details. It is the important element of building by keeping in mind the probability of disaster striking anytime sooner or later.
While house owners are more inclined on saving costs and clearing what loans they have availed, the element of meeting disasters in a better prepared way is completely out of the criteria for consideration as they hastily raise one hazardous storey of probable arsenal for death and destruction after another.
Nonetheless, it cannot also be avoided that, to make existing buildings resistant to earthquakes (seismic retrofitting) is expensive. Owing to this, even countries that suffered loss of lives by the thousands and even millions like the country of Haiti still haven’t effectively instituted such measures.
However and on the flip, the basic understanding remains that where you build and how you build will always go into how things stand the test of nature’s not-so-pleasant displays. Adjusting a few decimal points at the time of estimating costs to include few safety measures will really go a long way in bringing rewards, for what could be more precious than lives saved from disaster.
Experts on the topic also say, buildings that are more basic are actually stronger and would cost lesser, although it is also hinted that engineers building it and people who have to live in it may not be all too fond of the aesthetically-lacking structure that comes out.
It is high time that citizens think beyond the few extra thousand bucks to earn and consider larger life-related interests seriously. A case in point here is the legalization of attics wherein the municipality allowed houses to keep the extra storey under the roof as attics. Following that the Thromde on many occasions has dismantled ‘attics’ yet again being built on top of the extra floor allowed by it.
It is proven in many instances globally that earthquake-resilient measures adopted in buildings have countered to good extent in reducing otherwise the total destruction that will be caused by earthquakes.
According to GeoHazards, the U.S, New Zealand, Japan, Turkey (particularly Istanbul) and Chile are all high-risk countries where tectonic plates are under strain but they have taken steps to prepare buildings and educate the people in order to mitigate the consequences of a big quake.
Earth quake is not really the novelty event in this country either with the 2009 and 2011 episodes remaining very stark evidences and more than a few to recollect in the past.
However, apart from the 30 second or so public message aired on BBS TV on how to act ‘during’ an actual earthquake, the much urgently needed measures do not seem to be in initiation anywhere. And if there are any activities germinating toward it, perhaps they are not meant to be public knowledge yet, as they definitely would have been the spice of conversation for any and all unavoidably made aware of a huge calamity in a neighboring country.
Elsewhere, countries that are far more technologically advanced have instituted every disaster mechanisms and practices. They range from strict building codes to having regular drills in practice to face disasters such as fire and earthquakes. Back home such practices as emergency drills can be given higher importance and put to practice in schools, offices and big housing colonies.
The trend is rather more disturbing than comforting as buildings as tall as six storeys or more keep sprouting in the urban areas while poorly constructed structures continue to flourish in the rurals. It is of course not an opposition against builders who impressively raised such heights or the authority in effect that has approved the fine details. It is the important element of building by keeping in mind the probability of disaster striking anytime sooner or later.
While house owners are more inclined on saving costs and clearing what loans they have availed, the element of meeting disasters in a better prepared way is completely out of the criteria for consideration as they hastily raise one hazardous storey of probable arsenal for death and destruction after another.
Nonetheless, it cannot also be avoided that, to make existing buildings resistant to earthquakes (seismic retrofitting) is expensive. Owing to this, even countries that suffered loss of lives by the thousands and even millions like the country of Haiti still haven’t effectively instituted such measures.
However and on the flip, the basic understanding remains that where you build and how you build will always go into how things stand the test of nature’s not-so-pleasant displays. Adjusting a few decimal points at the time of estimating costs to include few safety measures will really go a long way in bringing rewards, for what could be more precious than lives saved from disaster.
Experts on the topic also say, buildings that are more basic are actually stronger and would cost lesser, although it is also hinted that engineers building it and people who have to live in it may not be all too fond of the aesthetically-lacking structure that comes out.
It is high time that citizens think beyond the few extra thousand bucks to earn and consider larger life-related interests seriously. A case in point here is the legalization of attics wherein the municipality allowed houses to keep the extra storey under the roof as attics. Following that the Thromde on many occasions has dismantled ‘attics’ yet again being built on top of the extra floor allowed by it.
Here too, truth is screaming loud that most disasters are man-made or let’s say prepped by humans quite effectively for disaster when it strikes. Point is, even before considering the most sophisticated and cost-intensive state-of-the-art measures, the few logical ones can be recalled and exercised. And what better time than now as facts under the headers of ‘Bhutan on a highly seismic zone,’ ‘the probability of a powerful earthquake,’ do the rounds on everyone’s minds and lips.
Published as Business Bhutan Editorial on May 02, 2015
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