Earthquake

Earthquake:
We all know what earthquakes are, how they affect the life on Earth and we all have also seen many live incidents happening everyday across the world. This makes Earthquakes one of the deadliest disasters of all times. How can we prevent ourselves from damage when an earthquake occurs? Or can we really prevent ourselves from damage when an earthquake occurs? Read On.

Formalities first, what exactly as in scientifically is an earthquake?
The Earth has plates in its magma called tectonic plates that are floating. Earthquakes are caused when tension is released from the rocks in the Earth's crust and upper mantle. Now, this tension is due to the friction between the tectonic plates. Another reason for the earthquakes is when the rocks in the Earth's crust bend and break. This causes shock waves to travel onto the Earth's surface and results in widespread destruction.
Earthquakes usually occur in  faults, a place where two tectonic plates meet. Earthquakes are mostly generated deep within the earth's crust, when the pressure between two plates is too great for them to be held in place. The underground rocks then snap, sending shock waves out in all directions. These are called seismic waves. The underground origin of an earthquake is called the focus. The point at which an earthquake originates on the surface is called the epicentre.
Too much of technicality right?
Onto some interesting facts about earthquakes,
The world’s deadliest recorded earthquake occurred in 1556 in central China. It struck a region where most people lived in caves carved from soft rock. These dwellings collapsed during the earthquake, killing an estimated 830,000 people. In 1976 another deadly earthquake struck in Tangshan, China, where more than 250,000 people were killed.
The earliest recorded evidence of an earthquake has been traced back to 1831 BC in the Shandong province of China, but there is a fairly complete record starting in 780 BC during the Zhou Dynasty in China.
When the Chilean earthquake occurred in 1960, seismographs recorded seismic waves that traveled all around the Earth. These seismic waves shook the entire earth for many days! This phenomenon is called the free oscillation of the Earth.
Most earthquakes occur at depths of less than 80 km (50 miles) from the Earth’s surface.
Each year the southern California area has about 10,000 earthquakes. Most of them are so small that they are not felt. Only several hundred are greater than magnitude 3.0, and only about 15-20 are greater than magnitude 4.0. If there is a large earthquake, however, the aftershock sequence will produce many more earthquakes of all magnitudes for many months.
The world’s greatest land mountain range is the Himalaya-Karakoram. It countains 96 of the world’s 109 peaks of over 7,317m (24,000 ft). The longest range is the Andes of South America which is 7,564km (4700 mi) in length. Both were created by the movement of tectonic plates.
REAL EXPERIENCES IN EARTHQUAKES:
BHAVESH SODAGAR
 (Gujarat Bhuj 2001 earthquake):
The below is the experience of Bhavesh  on 2001 earthquake;
“It was Friday, 26th January, 2001, the country started celebrating the Indian Republic Day. No one knew what will happen in the next moment. At 8:46hrs (Indian time) the earthquake of magnitude 7.9 struck Gujarat which was for almost two minutes and was worse in India. The epicentre was just north of the city of Bhuj which is in Kachchh district.

On that day I was in Mandvi, my hometown, and was about to leave for Bhuj to my office. Suddenly I felt shaking and heard a terrible noise. Slowly it started increasing and I could not understand what was happening. Then my mother said it is an earthquake and advised all of us to come below the “Umbhro”, a place just below a door. After this scary experience when everything becomes normal, my legs were feeling the shake for sometime. This was the first time, I experienced an earthquake. Fortunately there were very few buildings, which collapsed in my hometown Mandvi but we never thought what would be the situation in neighbouring towns. I went to Bhuj (60km from Mandvi), and shocked to see the damaged buildings, dust, people running here and there, some were crying in pain and some in the loss of their loved ones, some were still thinking what to do, some were sitting on the streets, some were trying to help others etc etc.. It was a painful sight. Most of the houses were collapsed and we tried to help whom all we can. Suddenly I saw one my uncle (Mama), and I asked him about everyone and he gave me a shocking news about my aunt (mother’s sister, her name was Jaya) who passed away. I don’t know how to react? Her loss added more to my pain. When earthquake happened, she came out of the house and asked everyone in the neighbourhood to come out, during this, a building collapsed on her and she died.

We went to get information about other friend’s relatives. That four stories building was completely destroyed and a rescue operation was going on. His sister’s family was in the building and we have to wait there till we get some information. His sister’s husband died in that building. While I was standing there, one woman came crying and asked me that whether I have seen her 12 year son who went to town in the morning? When I said no I haven’t then she cried more and started asking few more people. Similarly many deaths happen and many of you must know about the 200 school children in Anjar died during a Republic Day rally.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jJI5QOkHG0
 This is a video about Neeta who was paralyzed in the Gujarat earthquake of 2001. Since then she has been living with courage and dignity. She has written a book about her experiences which has been an inspiration to many other victims as well as disabled.

ANDREW PATERAS(Japan earthquake in march,2011):
The following is the personal experience of Andrew who is a professional photojournalist in Tokyo:
“As a photojournalist who aims to capture the beauty of our planet's cultures, I left my hotel room on Thursday morning excited to document the manic energy of Tokyo's sprawling megalopolis. There was no way I could have known that instead, I would end up taking pictures of one of the most frightening days of my life.

I had just emerged from the belly of the Tokyo Metro system, four floors beneath Shinjuku Station, the world’s busiest train station. Thousands of commuters and tourists jammed parallel train platforms and the shops in the arcade. It was around 3 p.m. I was lined up at the Bullet Train ticket counter to inquire about a trip to Nagoya, some 200 miles southwest of Tokyo, to shoot some photos there tomorrow. It was then that I felt the ground move under me slightly—it was almost imperceptible, like a subway rumbling through a tunnel far beneath my feet. I ignored it, as did everyone around me. Then, seconds later, a violent shuddering. Things started crashing to the ground, and signs hanging from the ceiling began swinging violently. I looked at an elderly man next to me. He smiled back at me and said one word: “Earthquake."
I ran for the door, about 60 feet away. The ground was shaking so violently that it was difficult to run in a straight line, like trying to sprint across the deck of a ship being tossed by swells. My heart was pounding when I reached the street and darted for a large park surrounded by skyscrapers; my mind replayed the image of the World Trade Center crashing to the ground.
The noise was unreal. You could hear the buildings creak and groan as they shook in their foundations. I wanted to get as far away from these buildings as possible, but in Tokyo, finding any truly open space is virtually impossible.
I turned to look at the building that I had just run out of; it was convulsing uncontrollably. You could still hear the ground rattling as thousands of people evacuated the buildings. I started to shoot photos of everything that was happening.
It was then that I felt the ground move under me slightly—it was almost imperceptible. Then, seconds later, a violent shuddering.
I stood in that park for a good two hours as did most everyone else.  During this time, the ground continued to tremble, albeit less violently. I would find out later that afternoon that the quake was a magnitude 8.9, the strongest earthquake to hit Japan in recorded history. Some people were visibly shaken. There were a few women crying, people pointing up at the buildings as they shook, but many others appeared calm and relaxed.
Making my way back to my hotel was an epic journey. The rail system in Tokyo was completely shut down and millions were trying to make their way home on foot. The streets were gridlocked, but I didn't learn how catastrophic the event had actually been until I got to my hotel and turned on the news. The coastal areas of Japan, especially a few hundred miles to the north, were devastated beyond recognition.
As I write this, the aftershocks are still hitting hard. I am on dry land and yet I feel seasick. I have lived through many frightening days—I nearly drowned last year while whitewater rafting in Africa—but this earthquake will be forever burned in my memory as the most harrowing experience of all. I saw hundred-story buildings sway like palm trees in the wind as the earth revolted beneath my feet. Now, I think I have seen it all.”

Earthquake preparedness :

To be prepared for a natural disaster is the most important thing in areas which are prone to them.

Here are a few mitigation methods and ways to be prepared in case of an earthquake.

Community preparedness : Community preparedness is vital for mitigating earthquake impact. The most effective way to save yourself is ‘DROP, COVER and  HOLD’.

Planning: The Bureau of Indian standards has published building guidelines in areas of high risk. These planning rules are formulated so that the building can withstand the effect of a quake.

If you are inside a building during and earthquake then move to corners or side walls.  Try taking cover under a desk/table. Move away from window glass or anything that is liable to break and fall( chandeliers, fans, etc. ).

If you are on a vehicle, stop the vehicle and move to open lands.

If you are outside then stay away from buildings, walls, power lines and other objects that could fall. Try finding open spaces to stand.

After an earthquake, it is adviced to stay calm and follow instructions of the rescue team. Try helping the rescue team to find people who are buried or those who need first-aid after you have got yours.


There are many possibilities where a person is when earthquake occurs. Some of the possibilities are described below: the person might be inside a building or the person might be standing outside somewhere or the person must be driving or the person might be in a mountainous area or a person might be in beach.
A plain area is the best area to be when an earthquake occurs. When the person is inside a building, it is better to hide under a heavy table and hold it. If the building is like a hotel, then it is better to go below the bed and be in foetal position and is better to keep away from windows. It is better to have pillows over the head to prevent head injuries. It is also not advisable to get down in steps because the steps might collapse easily in earthquakes.
When the person is outside the building it is better to stay away from large buildings and power lines because they have the possibility of falling down. If the person is inside a car, it is better to stay inside the car itself and avoid travelling on bridges which has a high risk of getting collapsed. But being inside the car also has a great risk since if there are some roads that are above the place where the car is being parked, it might collapse and fall on the car and the car might get crushed.
If the person is in some mountainous area, there is high risk since the rocks and trees might fell down at any instant. It’s better to stay away from high trees and rocks. If a person is in some seashore, it is better to move to a high lands since there is possibility of tsunami when an earthquake occurs inside the ocean.
After an earthquake has happened, the electric and gas connections must be checked thoroughly. Since, if there are some damages to the gas cylinders there is a risk of explosion of the cylinder which causes heavier destruction. The buildings must be checked for cracks and further damages. If there is huge crack in many parts of the buildings, it is better to get away from the buildings. It is not advisable to go near the seashores since there is risk of tsunami even after a long time after earthquake.