The northern areas of Pakistan are vulnerable to earthquakes. The latest 5.6 magnitude earthquake has been devastating with dozens dead and scores injured in Azad Kashmir, while people in various parts of the country were visibly shaken.
The damage has been extensive as roads have been destroyed and many houses completely flattened. Many people were forced to spend the night outside as aftershocks continue to rock the area.
The earthquake also resurrected the memories of the monstrous disaster which wrecked the region 14 years ago. The 7.6- magnitude quake on Oct 8, 2005, killed more than 79,000 and left 3.5 million homeless, making it the most deadly earthquake to have struck the region. In October 2015, a 7.1 magnitude quake jolted parts of KP and Punjab, and was also felt in Afghanistan killing 400 people.
There has been extensive reconstruction in the region ever since, but the region is prone to such disasters and similar incidents could occur in the highly seismic region. Many experts have predicted further earthquakes of higher magnitudes. The seismic risk is expected to grow due to rapid population growth and economic activity. The death toll, in case of such a disaster, will be far worse.
Earthquakes cannot be predicted reliably and the only way to minimise damage and protect people is to build houses and structures capable of resisting such strong earthquakes. There are building codes and guidelines used in many countries prone to earthquakes.
Pakistan had managed to update the building code to include these modern requirements for earthquake-proof designs but these are not being effectively enforced. There is also a need to update existing structures and to increase public awareness about the hazards of living in such structures, but this is a long-term process and will require significant investment. The concerned authorities must take steps to address this issue as ignoring earthquake risks is a recipe for disaster.
There are new risks emerging from economic development and the construction of mega infrastructure projects such as power plants and large dams. It is necessary to ensure that such projects do not lead to an increase in seismic risk and are built where local conditions are favourable. The nation has just passed a dam frenzy spearheaded by the former chief justice and a crowdfunding project was also launched, so such projects are seen as vital but a complete hazard assessment should be conducted.
There is also a need for awareness programs, preparedness, and professional training along with development of building codes to mitigate risks. Disaster relief organisations also need to work on loss estimation and recovery planning to decipher how losses cascade with a citywide catastrophe and to what extent are these acceptable.
The key to early recovery from a catastrophe is a reliable post-earthquake safety assessment, so before the next disaster, there is need for a uniform procedure. These risk reduction measures must be translated into positive actions that save lives, prevents losses and damages, a more resilient Pakistan must be built in the long run.
