Earthquake Preparedness: Resilient design must be paired with adaptive governance and community engagement

The shallow 7.7-magnitude earthquake recently flattened buildings across Myanmar, reportedly killing more than 2,800 people and making thousands more homeless.

- RITWIK MUKHERJEE

The earthquake was also felt hundreds of miles away in neighboring countries like Thailand, where the death toll stands at a significant level, even if it is not as high as Myanmar. Rescuers in both countries are still searching for survivors, though hopes are fading as more bodies are pulled from the ruins of collapsed buildings.

These have again raised several questions like why are earthquakes happening so frequently, whether they can be predicted accurately, whether there can be any earthquake-resilient techniques or technology, if any precautions can be taken, and so forth.

Speaking to The Statesman, Dr. Swati Nandi Chakraborty, an environment scientist & enthusiast and researcher with adept proficiency on the implementation of sustainable development, e-waste management, UNESCO Fellow & President of Future for Nature Foundation, also the Editor of IJBBS, tries to answer all such questions that keep coming back time and again. Excerpts:

Q: It seems that there are more earthquakes than ever before. Is it just a perception, and the number looks higher because of better reporting, stronger communication, and media? Or, are actually more earthquakes happening?