Joynal Abedin Khan & Kamruzzaman Bablu :
Experts are expressing apprehension as to whether Bangladesh has the capability of carrying search and rescue operations if a powerful natural disaster like earthquake happens in the country.
An earthquake of 6.9 magnitudes jolted the country, including the city of Dhaka last week that panicked the people although there was no report of any kind of devastation except some minor losses.
Almost all the earthquakes that occurred in recent time were mild and none of the epicenters was within close proximity, but experts and researchers do not rule out of intense shockwave.
Dr Syed Humayun Akhter, Professor and Chairman of Department of Geology of Dhaka University told The New Nation on Monday, “The strong earthquake might happen in Dhaka and other parts of the country any time in view of the recent series of jolting incidents.”
The preparation to meet the post-earthquake emergency is poor, he said. So, the government should build trained hands and garner logistic supports to reduce the casualties, he opined.
“If you ask the government about preparation, it will be said: We are prepared,” Professor Humayun Akhter said.
Dr Tariq-Bin-Yousuf, Caretaker Engineer of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), said, if 7.5 to 7.9 magnitude earthquake takes place in Dhaka, then 1834 km gas pipe line will be exploded, while 3036 km water pipe line and 370 km sewerage line will be damaged resulting in a massive devastating in the city. Both the power and the communication system will collapse.
A UN report in 2003 ranked Dhaka as the most vulnerable city to risk of earthquake devastation. Among 20 cities of the world, Dhaka was ranked top in the earthquake disaster risk on account of its poor building infrastructure lacking earthquake-resistant features, high population density, and poor emergency response and recovery capability.
In case of a 7.5-magnitude earthquake originating from Madhupur Fault, some 72,316 buildings in the capital will be destroyed totally and 53,166 others partially. “If an 8.5-magnitude tremor from the plate boundary of Fault-2 hits the region, some 2,38,164 buildings will be destroyed completely across the country,” added the study.
A study showed in case of a 7.5-magnitude earthquake, nearly 53.6 percent buildings in Dhaka city would be grounded, while another 23.8 percent partially.
The Disaster Management and Relief Ministry has already identified around 72,000 risky buildings in Dhaka city, including the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital as earthquake-prone structures, said Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Md Shah Kamal.
The objective of a special programme was to strengthen national capacity to handle such risks and to build recovery efforts, he said.
“About 60,000 volunteers were supposed to be trained, but so far only 16,000 have been trained. This is beyond insufficient for earthquake management,” he said.
Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain said, “There are 9,565 abandoned houses in the country. Of them, 6,467 are in Dhaka and Narayanganj, 228 in Rajshahi, seven in Natore, 16 in Chapainawabganj, 30 in Naogaon, 153 in Pabna, 10 in Sirajganj, 40 in Bogra, one in Joypurhat, 1,363 in Khulna, one in Bagerhat, 92 in Jessore, 507 in Kustia, 27 in Chuadanga, 353 in Chittagong, four in Sylhet, 42 in Rangpur, 223 in Nilphamari, 108 in Lalmonirhat, 11 in Kurigram, 15 in Gaibandha and 378 in Dinajpur.”
“Dhaka is not ready for it,” DNCC Mayor Annisul Huq told the meeting. No one, including the City Corporations, is truly prepared for a high magnitude earthquake.”
He said that the Dhaka North, the Dhaka South and Sylhet City Corporation would buy equipments worth Tk 350 crore in the next five years to ensure better earthquake rescue facilities.
