Home ›› 23 Feb 2023 ›› Editorial
The earth’s surface is made up of giant slabs of rock called tectonic plates. These plates are constantly moving along cracks where they meet, called fault lines. As plates grind together they can get stuck, causing pressure to build up. Eventually, the pressure is so great that they break loose, causing sudden movements which release energy in the form of seismic waves. These vibrations cause the ground to shake.
The point at which an earthquake occurs underground is called the focus; the area directly above it on the Earth’s surface is the epicentre. Several factors determine how destructive an earthquake is, including the depth at which it occurs.
On February 6, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hits the Turkey and Syria border. Though an earthquake of this magnitude is rare anywhere in the world, this type of event is generally expected on long, plate-boundary strike-slip faults. An earthquake this size has the potential to be damaging anywhere in the world, but many structures in this region are particularly vulnerable. The two largest earthquakes in the recent series are relatively shallow, with the main shock 18 kilometres, deep and the 7.5 magnitude aftershock at 10 kilometers deep.
Because the quakes are relatively shallow, the intensity of the shaking is severe. Turkey is in one of the world’s most active earthquake zones. Monday’s magnitude 7.8 earthquake exceeded the magnitude 7.6 that hit the country in 1999.In August 1999, that catastrophic earthquake shook Marmara, a densely populated region to the south of Istanbul, for 45 seconds. Within days, the official death toll stood at 37,000.Turkey and Syria have surpassed more than 11,000 people in the world’s deadliest earthquake disaster in more than a decade.
The number of victims is climbing days after earthquakes levelled cities and towns in both countries. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in the country’s south, where rescue workers are looking for people still trapped under the rubble in the frigid cold. Temperatures in Gaziantep, near the epicentre in southern Turkey, dropped into the low 20s overnight. Experts have predicted the toll in both countries will rise further, and perhaps more than double, as hundreds of collapsed buildings in many cities have become tombs for people who were asleep when the first quake hit in the early morning. Erdogan, wary of the impact of any perception his government was failing in its response to Turkey’s most deadly quake since 1939, has declared a state of emergency in the areas concerned and sent in troops to help. He has also promised new housing within a year for those left homeless in the 10 affected provinces, where an estimated 64,000 buildings have been destroyed.
This collapse is exactly the result of systematic profiteering politics. If there is anyone responsible for this process, it is Erdoğan. It is this ruling party that has not prepared the country for an earthquake for 20 years. Survivors in southern Turkey and north-west Syria, meanwhile, spent a second night in the freezing cold, many taking refuge in their cars or under blankets in the streets, fearful of going back into potentially seriously weakened buildings. A winter storm and subzero temperatures have rendered many roads in the region some of them already severely damaged by the earthquakes almost impassable, resulting in traffic jams that stretch for miles in some areas. A lack of heavy equipment is also severely hindering the rescue effort.
The World Health Organization, which has previously said up to 23 million people may be affected by the quakes, recently announced it was sending a high-level delegation to coordinate its response in both countries, as well as three flights with medical supplies, one of which is already on its way to Istanbul. The health needs are tremendous.
Generally, large earthquakes occur in plate boundaries although Bangladesh is not located on plate boundaries, it still experiences earthquakes due to its geological location and tectonic activities in the surrounding region. Bangladesh is divided into three earthquake zones, with the northern and southern parts of the country being the most vulnerable, such as Sylhet, Rangamati, Bandarban, Cox's Bazar, etc. Dhaka and Chittagong are moderately vulnerable, while the western and southwestern parts of the country are relatively less vulnerable.
To ensure that Bangladesh is better prepared for future earthquakes, it is necessary to take a multi-pronged approach that addresses both the physical and human aspects of disaster preparedness. Improving building codes and construction practices: One of the main reasons for the widespread destruction caused by the earthquake was the inadequate building codes and construction practices in Bangladesh. It is therefore essential to establish stronger building codes and enforce them rigorously to ensure that future buildings can withstand the effects of earthquakes.
This will require collaboration between the government, private sector, and civil society organizations. Bangladesh needs to have a comprehensive disaster response plan in place that outlines the steps to be taken in the event of an earthquake or other natural disaster. This plan should include details on evacuation procedures, search and rescue efforts, and the distribution of aid and support to those affected by the disaster.
The government and international organizations should provide financial support for disaster-resilient investments, such as the construction of earthquake-resistant buildings and the upgrading of infrastructure in disaster-prone areas.
Promoting public education and awareness: Public education and awareness are crucial for ensuring that people are prepared for earthquakes and other natural disasters. This can be achieved through school programs, community-based campaigns, and the use of mass media. Bangladesh should chase the importance of disaster preparedness and the need to take concrete steps to ensure that the country is better prepared for future earthquakes The tragedy has mobilized Turkey’s allies to join together in solidarity. More than forty-five countries have already extended their condolences and offered help to Turkey. In Ukraine, where people know well how it feels to wake up to the shouts of those trapped under the rubble of levelled buildings, many have joined a campaign to garner assistance for those affected in the devastating earthquake, while political leadership expressed readiness to send a large group of rescue workers to Turkey to assist in the crisis response.
Ukrainians’ hearts and prayers have been with Turkey today. With so much happening in the region, it is important to make sure that the cost of human lives is not depreciated, people’s deaths do not become mere figures in statistics, and necessary lessons are learned. There is also a risk that the devastating consequences of the earthquake, just months ahead of critical elections, will be used for political manipulations and information operations both internally and externally. Just hours after the tragedy, Russian Telegram channels and think tanks have published similar messages urging Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to take this opportunity to renew direct talks with Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, claiming this would be a good time for a coordinated Turkish-Russian-Syria response.
There may be some softening of heretofore tense regional relations in the aftermath and during the recovery process. Turkey is once again faced with the devastating effects of an earthquake, this time epicentered on Kahramanmaraş, in the southeastern region of the country. The earthquake also affected highly populated cities including Gaziantep, Sanlıurfa, Antakya, Adana, and Malatya. It is cold in the region at the moment, and all kinds of humanitarian aid are needed. Although Turkey has extensive experience in dealing with similar natural disasters, any support from other countries will make a difference in the field. History has shown us many times that a common struggle in natural disasters such as earthquakes can make positive contributions to the development of relations between countries. I think that countries that show solidarity with Turkey will also improve their bilateral relations.
The mandate for Syria cross-border aid via Turkey has, thankfully, been extended until July. But, at present, Damascus allows it to enter via only one border point. It would be unconscionable if the others remained closed at this time of desperate need. Though the regime bears the primary responsibility for the suffering of its people, others must step up. Ankara’s attempts to accelerate the return of Syrian refugees would exacerbate the situation were they to continue. The humanitarian response plan for Syria was already severely underfunded; less than half of the $4bn needed has been provided the lowest level since the crisis began. The need is all the greater now. Ensuring that aid reaches the most vulnerable will be difficult in the extreme. But every effort must be made.
The writer is a researcher based in the UK.
