Earthquake is a natural process that is the result of the release of energy in the crust of Earth, which results in seismic waves. It can occur due to different factors which include volcanic activity, tectonic movement, and human activities.
The occurrence of earthquakes results in the shaking of the ground which causes massive damage to the earth, which Induces landslides, tsunamis, and other secondary effects.
Therefore, it is mandatory to be equipped for natural disasters, specifically when your area is prone to a condition that results in an earthquake. This can be done by arranging emergency supplies which include food, water, and first aid. However, it is important to make people learn about precautionary measures that need to be done by people when facing an earthquake.
This article will explore the global earthquake, examining the history and environmental changes in Turkey.
Why does an earthquake happen?
Earthquakes fall out due to the jerky release of energy in the crust of the earth. The energy is stored in the rocks which make the earth's crust and the topmost layer of Earth's “mantle” and is set to release when rocks break and move ironically. When the stress on the rock along the fractures surpasses the strength of the rocks, they break and move quickly which creates seismic waves that move outward from the point of rupture.
Earthquake is also the result of the movement of tectonic plates which is considered to be the main reason. The tectonic plates are huge, rigid slabs of rocks that together make the outermost layer of Earth. When these plates move against each other results in the production of friction and results in the release of energy in the form of an earthquake.
Some other reasons behind the earthquake are volcanic activities, underground explosions, and the collapse of mines underground. These types of earthquakes seem to be smaller as compared to tectonic earthquakes.
Earthquake in Turkey:
The location of turkey is the main reason why they frequently encounter natural disasters, this country is located in the “Alpine-Himalayan Belt” which is the main zone of rigorous earthquake activities due to the collision of tectonic plates. The history of Turkey itself is evidence that it is the major victim of earthquakes. It has had major earthquake incidence in past. Starting from 1999 with a magnitude of 7.4 and killed about 17k people and had a devastating impact overall.
Moreover, it had another bad experience in 2020 and faced two earthquakes with magnitudes of 6.7 and 7.0 which caused an immense effect on the infrastructure and human lives.
Recently, on 6 February 2023, Turkey faced a frightening earthquake, which was very huge and brought lots of problems for the people of the whole country. It has been measured with a magnitude of 7.8 which is the highest ever experienced in the world. It has generated terrible results for people living there, around 2000 people have died and it also causes damage to nearby pipelines which leads to fires.
How should Turkey encounter earthquakes?
Turkey is a country that is highly inclined towards earthquakes and the government and people need to consider this issue and take initiatives to reduce risk and minimize the effect of earthquakes. Turkey can manage earthquakes by following these measures:
Tone up building codes:
Turkey makes strict building codes and standards that should be designed in a way that they can withstand earthquakes. The buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure should be built with such an architectural design that would be able to resist the damages of earthquakes and there should be regular checks and balances that guarantees the structure of the building.
The aware public of basic measures:
Government and NGOs should provide proper education to the general public about how they can get prepared for earthquakes and how should they react during and after an earthquake. The information may include earthquake safety, what measures to be done, and emergency supplies.
Develop plans to respond in the emergency:
Turkey should design emergency response plans that would help people quickly respond to earthquakes and supply assistance to the people and areas which are being affected. This may include a team to rescue, a team for medical assistance, and a team to supply essential products.
Establish an early warning system:
Being a country with a threat of earthquakes, Turkey should have early warning systems which can provide beforehand notice of upcoming earthquakes. This would provide people some time to cover and move if needed.
Regular earthquake drills need to be conducted:
There should be regular earthquake drills which will help people to get prepared for what to do in an event of an earthquake. These drills can be conducted in schools, offices, and public gatherings. These will help them to know what they should do in emergencies.
These are some of the steps that need to be considered by Turkey to manage risk and lessen the impact of earthquakes. The both public and government need to work together and apply these measures and assure that Turkey is well-prepared for earthquakes.
Conclusion:
Earthquakes are characteristic peculiarity that happens when there is an unexpected arrival of energy in the earth's crust. They can be brought about by different elements, including structural plate developments, volcanic emissions, and human exercises like penetrating and mining. Seismic tremors can devastatingly affect humans, causing misfortune of life, destructing infrastructure, and economic losses.
While researchers have gained critical headway in grasping quakes and developing warning systems, forecasting when and where tremors will happen. However, there are steps that individuals and communities can take to prepare for earthquakes and reduce their impact, such as creating emergency kits, securing furniture and buildings, and practicing earthquake drills.
Generally, earthquakes can be impulsive and disastrous, expanded mindfulness and readiness can assist in reducing their effect and save thousands of lives.