One of the major natural disasters that hit today’s world is earthquake. Most of earthquake incidents greatly affect the life, livelihood and properties of the people. Thus, each must be informed, educated and took the latest updates about earthquakes in order to be well prepared in such kind of disaster. High magnitude of earthquake is one of the most catastrophic events that can exist to any part of this world especially for countries which belongs to the Pacific Ring of Fire. These temblors usually occur due to the movement of tectonic plates that collides the tectonic plate boundaries of each other found in the upper layer of the earth or can be caused by the great explosion during volcanic eruptions both in land and in water areas which can cause the death of thousands of people that were compounded due to the collapsed buildings, mud slides, flash floods, tsunamis and fires.
Earth quake hazards can start on ground shaking which can make things fall and topple it all over the place. Then, it will be followed by the ground rupture that makes some land displacement or separation of ground soil. The observance of massive bank scouring and liquefaction can be seen. At this point it can trigger or cause tsunami in the sea or landslides in some land areas. The tectonic movement in the sea or underwater volcanic eruption which caused a certain earthquake of at least 5.7 magnitudes can create a tsunami in bodies of water.Magnitudes of earthquake range from 2. 5 or less up to 8 magnitudes or greater. It has been estimated that 900, 000 earthquake incidents are occurring annually with 2.5 or less magnitude. It is usually recorded in a seismograph but is not always felt by the people. If a magnitude of 2.5 to 5.4 earthquake strikes, it is usually felt yet there are no causes of minor damages. This kind of earthquake magnitudes happen 30, 000 in number as reported on each year. On the other hand, 5.5 to 6.0 magnitudes which happens in 500 incidents every year, there is only a minimal damage in houses, buildings and any other structure. However, 6.1 to 6.9 magnitudes estimated to be 100 in number each year causes many damages in most crowded areas. Serious damages and a very known great earthquake exist from 7.0 to 8 or greater magnitudes which happens 20 times annually.
This fact is supported by many past earthquakes that stroke many countries around the world just like the great Sumatran Earthquake and Indian tsunami that hit 12 countries in Asia last December 26, 2004. It resulted to 226, 707 casualties and 146, 004 missing plus great damages among houses and many other properties of the affected areas which made 2, 475, 375 displaced and massive destruction of property. Then, the recent Japan’s earthquake which resulted to tsunami last March 11, 2011 was confirmed with 10, 102 dead, 17, 053 missing and 2, 777 injured persons.
Now, the existence of earthquake must be the concerned of everyone like nations being united to build a great movement against the disastrous earthquake impact in every country. You can be the instrument to prevent great quake disaster by being involved on the risk reduction management and disaster preparedness.
