Central Asia-Pakistan Earthquake 2005

On Saturday morning, 8 October 2005, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Pakistan. It was caused by the northward movement of the Indo-Australian plate against the Eurasian plate. They collided and the Indo-Australian plate is forced beneath the Eurasian plate.

The impact of the earthquake was destructive. At least 86,000 people were killed, more than 69,000 injured and extensive damage in North Pakistan. 3.3 million people were homeless due to the earthquake and more than 1000 hospitals were destroyed. Many buildings collapsed, trapping people.

The damage was so extensive! Its cost of damage was about US$5 billion! Direct damages and indirect economic losses total more than US$2.3 billion and reconstruction will add up to US$2.65 billion. Many countries offered relief aid which was given in the form of food, medical supplies, tents and blankets. Some countries also donated huge sums of money, hoping to help the victims. Rescue and relief workers were sent from different parts of the world to Pakistan and they brought along rescue equipment, including helicopter and rescue dogs.

The Pakistan government was totally unprepared for a sudden earthquake. Since Pakistan is more prone to earthquakes, I think people should be more prepared. Buildings should also be built as strong as possible so that they would not fall to the ground too easily during a massive earthquake. Saving cost could be a problem for not constructing the buildings strong enough but the government should know that this can minimise the damage caused and death of people.

I think that the government should also instruct teachers in schools to teach the students how to keep save in such circumstances and should also give out flyers to the citizens of tips on how to protect themselves during an earthquake so that everyone in the country can be safe.

Bibliography

George Pararas-Carayannis,

http://www.drgeorgepc.com/Earthquake2005Pakistan.html, extracted 21.02.2010

Unknown author, http://www.pakquake2005.com/, extracted 21.02.2010

Unknown author,http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2005/usdyae/#summary, extracted 21.02.2010

Sharmaine Lee (31)

1 Diligence