Samson Tesfaye
Earthquakes occur in Ethiopia along the Rift Valley and its
surroundings. A few notable past earthquakes include
Kara Kore in the 1961, Serdo in 1969, and Dobe
(Afar) in 1989.
The level of destruction of an earthquake, among other things, is a
function of its magnitude and proximity to built-up
areas. If an earthquake strikes a remote place, its
impact would be negligible. However, if it strikes
close to densely populated areas the impact could be
catastrophic.
In recent weeks, the world has witnessed two major earthquakes – in
Haiti (January 12, 2010) and in Chile, on February
27, 2010 – with totally different outcomes in terms
of human and economic loss. The Chilean earthquake
was a much stronger magnitude 8.8, while the Haitian
earthquake was a magnitude seven.
However, the magnitude of destruction is significantly less in Chile
than it was in Haiti. The number of lives lost in
Chile is estimated to be in the hundreds whereas in
Haiti it is in the hundreds of thousands.
Why such a disparity?
The answer is in the earthquake preparedness. Chile is a country that
has been hit by major earthquakes in the past and
has adopted strict building codes that would
withstand a certain level of ground shaking, while
Haiti did not. Unfortunately, the effect is
reflected in the level of destruction and number of
lives lost.
Earthquakes have happened in Ethiopia and will happen in the future,
that is a given. The magnitude of the earthquakes,
however, should not be as big as the ones in Chile
or Haiti.
How prepared is the country in the event of an earthquake?
The recent construction boom in the country has seen the erection of
high-rise buildings in Addis Abeba and other cities.
Do we have building codes suitable for earthquake prone areas? How
strictly are these building codes enforced?
Earthquake preparedness also involves raising public awareness of the
potential problem. It would be wonderful to hear
from the appropriate government officials on the
issue of earthquake preparedness in the country.
Which scenario will play out in the event of an earthquake striking a
populated area in Ethiopia – Chile or Haiti?
