Response to an Earthquake in Bangladesh: Experiences and lessons learnt

Biswas, A; Mashreky, SR; Dala, K; Deave, Toity

Abstract

A powerful earthquake occurred in Nepal on 25th April 2015 where the highest measure of the tremor was 7.9 on the Richter scale with a minimum of 6.6. The death toll was around 3000 and thousands were injured in the devastation of the disaster. The earthquake and subsequent earth tremors were also felt in other South East Asian countries including Bangladesh, India and China. Bangladesh was jolted twice by tremors and, although the tremor was not as severe, it was reported to be between 4 and 5 on the Richter scale. Aftershocks over the next few days were also experienced and these ranged around 5 on the Richter scale. In Bangladesh, six lives were lost, and more than 200 people were injured and were taken to hospital. There were also many buildings that collapsed in the mega city Dhaka and its surrounding areas. This study describes the country’s response to the earthquake. This experience and the lessons learnt highlight the importance for national earthquake-proof building regulations and systems to lessen the damage and devastation of any future earthquake.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 16, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Dec 30, 2015
• Publication Date: Dec 30, 2016
• Deposit Date: Dec 19, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 19, 2017
• Journal: Open Journal of Earthquake Research
• Print ISSN: 2169-9623
• Electronic ISSN: 2169-9631
• Publisher: Scientific Research Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1-6
• Keywords: component, formatting, style, styling
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/904297
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojer.2016.51001
• Contract Date: Dec 19, 2017