An earthquake of magnitude 6.5 on the Richter scale struck northeast Afghanistan on Tuesday, 21st of March, whose tremors were felt in neighboring countries reaching even New Delhi, the capital city of India. The tremors were felt across countries that include Afghanistan, India, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and China.
The Associated Press reported around at least 11 people dead in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with the death toll likely to be higher and counting. More than 100 people were brought to hospitals in the Swat valley region of Pakistan, according to a spokesman for Pakistan’s emergency services.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the epicenter of the magnitude 6.5 quake was 40 kilometers (25 miles) south-southeast of Jurm, in Afghanistan’s mountainous Hindukush region. Afghanistan has a long history of earthquakes, many of which happen in the mountainous Hindu Kush region that borders Pakistan.
The USGS also reported that, the earthquake struck 188 kilometers (116 miles) deep below the Earth’s surface in the region bordering Pakistan and Tajikistan.
Why is Afghanistan prone to so many earthquakes?
Afghanistan is located in a region where several tectonic plates meet, making it susceptible to seismic activity.
As it is located in the mountainous Hindu Kush region, part of the Alpide Belt, the second most seismically active region in the world after the Pacific Ring of Fire, it stretches from the Mediterranean to Southeast Asia. This belt is formed by the collision of the Eurasian and African plates in the west and the Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates in the east. As these plates move, they create pressure and tension that eventually result in earthquakes.
The region is situated on the boundary between the Indian, Eurasian & Arabian tectonic plates. The Indian plate moves northwards and is pushed against the Eurasian plate, causing it to move westwards. This movement results in the formation of the Hindu Kush mountain range, which runs through Afghanistan and Pakistan. The collision of these plates creates seismic waves, that results in earthquakes.
A Need for Safety in Peril
As the effects of yesterday’s earthquake were felt across the National Capital Region of India, a question arises as to how very necessary it is to have proper hazard planning and shockproof construction to minimize the impact of earthquakes. National Capital Territory of Delhi and its surrounding areas, is located in a seismically active zone.
According to the Geological Survey of India (GSI), this region falls in seismic zone IV, which is classified as a high damage risk zone. The area has witnessed earthquakes in the past, including the devastating earthquake of 1956.
To mitigate and minimize the loss, safe zones should be identified & evacuation routes planned.
There should be an improvement in emergency response mechanisms, and people should be educated about earthquake drills and safety measures to be adopted in case of an earthquake.
Planners, Architects & Builders should design and construct buildings that can withstand the impact of an earthquake. This includes using earthquake-resistant building materials, like RCC (reinforced concrete), and following strict construction guidelines that ensure the structural integrity of buildings.
