Losses Due to Earthquakes
The main reasons of increasing frequencies of catastrophe events are increase in population density worldwide and the densely populated cities are growing in high hazard, catastrophe-prone areas.
We have outlined the losses that a country and its people face during and after an intense shake:
- Economic losses
- Financial loss due to damage to property/buildings
- Breakage of water and gas lines
- Uncontrollable fires
- Damage and loss of life
- Business interruption in case of damage to commercial properties
- Prolonged loss of income
The world has recorded many devastating earthquakes in the history.
- In 1960, Chile was hit by earthquake with the highest magnitude of 9.5, which caused 4,485 people deaths and injuries and left 2 million homeless
- In 1999, the 7.6 magnitude earthquake killed over 2,000 people
- The 7.6 magnitude earthquake also occurred in Kashmir (Pakistan) in the year 2005, which killed over 86,000.
- On 26th January, 2001, 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Kutch, Gujarat, and resulted in 20,000 people deaths.
- On 11 March 2011, Tohoku-Oki 9.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan killed over 15,000 people and set off a devastating tsunami.
- On 25th April, 2015, major parts of Nepal were devastated by this worst natural disaster and its 120 aftershocks. The recorded magnitude of 7.8 stir the country and led to the death of over 9000 people and over 23,000 injured. Hundreds to thousands of people become homeless. Major monuments and centuries-old buildings such as Kathmandu Durbar Square, Changu Narayan Temple, Swayambhunath Stupa, Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Patan Durbar Square near Kathmandu were destroyed.
Earth Quake Prone Areas in India
There are total of 38 major earthquake prone areas in India. Almost 60% of land is vulnerable to earthquakes. According to the Geographical statistics of India, out of them the major 10 cities are Guwahati, Srinagar, Delhi, Mumbai, Patna, Chennai, Jammu, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Dehradun. Recently 81 more cities has been added to the list.