Earthquakes frequently take place in the world. Many earthquakes have shattered the world, killing millions of people and destroying many areas. Very recently, an earthquake has shattered Morocco. According to multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, a strong earthquake of magnitude 6.8 struck central Morocco, killing several thousand people and causing damages in several areas. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which resulted in widespread destruction and loss of life, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, which caused catastrophic damage to the capital city of Port-au-Prince and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, and the 2023 Syria-Turkish earthquake, which killed more than fifty thousand people, are some other earthquakes. But high casualties in earthquakes are a concern in many countries.
It is notable that governments most often immediately respond to earthquakes in different countries. But government responses to earthquakes vary depending on the severity of the earthquake and the country’s level of preparedness. In many cases, governments implement effective early warning systems that facilitate preparedness and evacuation and activate emergency response plans, mobilize resources and carry out rescue operations and coordinate with local authorities to provide immediate assistance to affected areas. Different countries including the United States, Japan, an earthquake prone country, and Mexico have advanced early warning systems. Governments establish temporary shelters, medical facilities and distribution centers for food and supplies in many cases and often collaborate with international organizations and neighboring countries to rescue and receive aid and support in the aftermath of a major earthquake.
But there are often preparedness based, response based and other flaws, leading to high casualties in many countries. According to multiple sources, a lack of effective early warning systems and other preparedness measures — including the lack of comprehensive earthquake preparedness plans and a lack of conducting drills to practice emergency response protocols — are frequently noted flaws in different countries. While some countries have well-developed preparedness measures in place, many governments fail to adequately allocate resources, prioritize earthquake mitigation measures and invest in proper infrastructure and early warning systems, leaving many of their citizens vulnerable to the devastating effects of earthquakes. The lack of effective preparedness measures sometimes leads to confusion and delayed search and rescue operations in earthquakes in many countries.
Among others, a lack of effective coordination and communication among different agencies and organizations, local and international, involved in the rescue and relief efforts in affected communities, political instability and logistical difficulties affect timely response. A lack of timely emergency supplies including food, water and first aid kits and arrangements of shelters often lead to extra suffering for the people affected by earthquakes in many countries. In the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, a lack of effective collaboration and communication, along with a lack of infrastructure to handle earthquakes, driven by the lack of effective coordination mechanism made it difficult to carry out search and rescue efforts and provide aid deliveries timely, resulting in a devastating loss of life and further harm and suffering.
It is desired that efforts be made effective in responding to devastating earthquakes. For this, a comprehensive earthquake preparedness plan with implementing early warning systems — which are crucial to predicting earthquakes accurately and providing timely warnings — along with conducting regular drills and simulations and investing in infrastructure upgrades is crucial in many countries. Emphasis also needs to be given to effective earthquake response plans with effective coordination of search and rescue operations and recovery efforts. In New Zealand, a well-coordinated emergency management system in place allows for swift response and effective rescue operations during seismic events. Educating communities about earthquake preparedness and encouraging individuals to create emergency kits can also greatly enhance earthquake response efforts in many countries.
Among other measures, strengthening the resilience of buildings and infrastructure including critical infrastructure (such as bridges and power plants) to withstand seismic activity and implementing a comprehensive system for assessing and addressing infrastructure vulnerabilities are crucial to reducing the effects of earthquakes. This is imperative for earthquake prone countries. Additionally, international response is crucial in devastating earthquakes. Facilitating the sharing of best practices and lessons learned among countries and fostering partnerships between governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector are also crucial for effective response. But cooperation between or among opposing forces is crucial to make effective and timely responses to earthquakes when they occur in conflicting countries.
