Eathquake Safety

• Earthquakes are usually caused when rock underground suddenly breaks along a fault. This sudden release of energy causes the seismic waves that make the ground shake. When two blocks of rock or two plates are rubbing against each other, they stick a little.

Why does the earthquake happen? What causes it?

• Although the ground we walk on seems solid, the Earth's surface is actually made up of huge pieces of flat rock called tectonic plates.
• They float on top of a layer of softer, squidgy rock called the mantle.
• The plates move very slowly, over millions of years, and where they come together is called a fault.
• When the plates rub together, the movement forces waves of energy to come to the Earth's surface.
• This causes tremors and shakes - and these are called earthquakes.

 

When does the earthquake occur?

• Earthquakes occur all the time all over the world, both along plate edges and along faults. Most earthquakes occur along the edge of the oceanic and continental plates.

Effects of earthquake

• Although probably the most important, direct shaking effects are not the only hazard associated with earthquakes, other effects such as landslides, liquefaction, and tsunamis have also played important part in destruction produced by earthquakes.

How does the earthquake occur?

 

Interesting fact:

•  Earthquake vibrations travel very fast, up to 14 kilometres per second. The fastest seismic waves take less than 20 minutes to reach the other side of the earth, a distance of almost 13 000 kilometers!
• A magnitude 8.6 earthquake releases energy equivalent to about 10 000 atomic bombs of the type developed in World War II

Is Nepal safe?

• Recently Nepal was quaked by 7.9 Richter scale. 7000+ people were dead and more than 15 thousands people were wounded.
• Nepal is in real risk . You can see the above seismographic picture.

 

What to do?

 We cannot avoid earthquake . What we can do is:

• Drop down; take cover under a desk or table and hold on.
• Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you're sure it's safe to exit.
• Stay away from bookcases or furniture that can fall on you.
• Stay away from windows. In a high-rise building, expect the fire alarms and sprinklers to go off during a quake.
• If you are in bed, hold on and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow.
• If you are outdoors, find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, and power lines. Drop to the ground.
• If you are in a car, slow down and drive to a clear place. Stay in the car until the shaking stops.