The devastating earthquake which measured 8.8 on Richter Scale hit Chile on the early morning of 27 February 2010. Chile is located on the Pacific Rim or ring of fire which is the world's most seismecally active region. This earthquake was the biggest in magnitude and the closest recorded was in 1960 in the same country which claimed about 2000 lives.
The earthquake damaged or destroyed about 5,00,00 houses and buildings and also killed 700 people. The death toll was too low comparing with the earthquakes of Haiti and Pakistan in the past. This clearly speaks of Chilean Government's knowledge, meticulous planning and preparation for such a disaster being earthquake prone country. The national emergency office which is organized at national, regional and local level, coordinated services of fire fighters, medical teams and civil defence etc ensuring effective emergency response and controlled the damage to a great extent. Moreover, strictly enforced house building codes also ensured the buildings are earthquake proof. Chile being the wealthiest Latin American nation refused financial assistance from abroad only allowing medical teams speaks of the country's self reliance and timely preparedness for such a disaster.
Its been almost five years since Pakistan was hit by a major earthquake which resulted in great loss of human life and property but so far we have failed to put any national emergency centre in line of Chile. There is a need to organize an effective civil defence system which should coordinate quick and timely response to such a disaster in future. We should have sufficient reserves to tackle such like situation on the lines of Chilean response to the February earthquake. If we failed to learn lessons from Chile in disaster management, then we are likely to suffer like Haiti which lost more than two lac people in the recent earthquake which measured less than that of the Chile.
The earthquake damaged or destroyed about 5,00,00 houses and buildings and also killed 700 people. The death toll was too low comparing with the earthquakes of Haiti and Pakistan in the past. This clearly speaks of Chilean Government's knowledge, meticulous planning and preparation for such a disaster being earthquake prone country. The national emergency office which is organized at national, regional and local level, coordinated services of fire fighters, medical teams and civil defence etc ensuring effective emergency response and controlled the damage to a great extent. Moreover, strictly enforced house building codes also ensured the buildings are earthquake proof. Chile being the wealthiest Latin American nation refused financial assistance from abroad only allowing medical teams speaks of the country's self reliance and timely preparedness for such a disaster.
Its been almost five years since Pakistan was hit by a major earthquake which resulted in great loss of human life and property but so far we have failed to put any national emergency centre in line of Chile. There is a need to organize an effective civil defence system which should coordinate quick and timely response to such a disaster in future. We should have sufficient reserves to tackle such like situation on the lines of Chilean response to the February earthquake. If we failed to learn lessons from Chile in disaster management, then we are likely to suffer like Haiti which lost more than two lac people in the recent earthquake which measured less than that of the Chile.
thumbs up:)
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