Last February 6, 2023, a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake and a series of strong tremors and aftershocks devastated Turkey and northwest Syria. The death toll has passed 41,000 and continues to rise.
Tens of thousands are injured and hundreds of thousands displaced across a region already beset by turmoil from the nearly 12-year conflict in Syria and the ongoing refugee crisis. After working desperately for nearly two weeks to locate additional survivors, search and rescue teams from around the world are largely shifting to recovery efforts. Reports indicate that there are over 87,000 injuries and 47,000 buildings have been destroyed or damaged.
Statistically, the quake at Turkey was just a little stronger than the magnitude-7.2 earthquake that devastated Bohol on 2013, leaving mass destruction over the province; from dead people to crumpling churches and buildings.
According to analysts, the high death toll and massive devastation in Turkey are attributed to several factors, which people in earthquake-prone Philippines should consider. One is that the quake in Turkey struck in the early hours of the day, when most people were still asleep.
Another factor is that the region had not experienced a powerful earthquake in many years, and disaster preparedness was weak. Because of the low awareness of earthquake risks, news reports said there had been no emphasis on ensuring the structural sturdiness of buildings in the quake-hit areas.
What, then, can the Philippines get as a lesson on the recent earthquake at Turkey?
Being prepared.
As stated, the Philippines, sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire that is dotted with highly active volcanoes and earthquake faults, hence we should always be prepared and continue to give awareness to every citizens of our country.
Although, the Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology has already been warning us that densely populated places in the Philippines, like Manila, is ripe for the so-called “Big One” and that all concerned agencies must ramp up preparedness for the projected massive death and destruction, we should help them by continuing to remind ourselves that it might happen to us, sooner than later. The earthquake in Turkey should serve as yet another reminder about the importance of preparedness because a killer quake can strike anytime. (AJDB)
