You’ve probably had this happen to you before: Someone approaches you with something to tell you, but first they ask that infamous question: “Good news or bad news?” This is similar to such a situation, but different in a way – the bad news comes first (come on, most people pick bad news first anyways).
The bad news: In the past two months, there have been earthquakes occurring all over the globe and nine that have reached at least a 6.0 magnitude.
On Feb. 26, Japan was hit by a 7.0 earthquake, the epicenter just off the Japanese coast. Though there have been nine deaths reported so far, a small number compared to what could have happened, 12 people are still missing and 200 people have been injured after the quake. Japanese officials immediately issued tsunami warnings after the earthquake hit, but the biggest tsunami to strike was a four inch wave and warnings have since then been downgraded. There have been more than 200 aftershocks since Saturday.
The next day, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 occurred off the coast of Chile on Feb. 27, with the epicenter just north-northeast of its second largest city, Concepción. The death toll is currently close to 500, a growing number of people are being listed as missing, and over 500,000 homes have been severely damaged or completely destroyed by the quake.
In a little than a week later, a magnitude 6.4 quake struck Taiwan on Mar. 4. Following that was a 6.5-magnitude earthquake offshore of Sumatra, Indonesia on Mar. 5. In Taiwan, although almost 100 people were injured in the quake, there have not yet been any reports of deaths, and the quake in Sumatra caused no major incidents.
Several days later, on Mar. 8, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 struck eastern Turkey in the early morning at 4:30 a.m. while many were sleeping. The quake and 100 aftershocks resulted in a bit more than 50 reported deaths and 30 injuries. The stone and mud-brick homes that many citizens lived in were completely reduced to the ground in a matter of minutes.
All the earthquakes and destruction wreaked by them are frightening, to say the least. “Just the seemingly-never ending trends of these earthquakes and the disaster and horror it has caused is truly shocking and heartbreaking,” said sophomore Ivana Ro. “My prayers are with the victims and those affected by them.”
Despite all the bad news, there actually is good news: Buildings cannot be built to be 100% earthquake-proof, but they can be built to resist earthquakes as best they can. Some agree this is why Chile, despite experiencing an 8.8 magnitude earthquake, had less than one four-hundredth the number of casualties that came from the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Haiti. Japanese, Sumatra, and Taiwan were also spared of the many deaths that could have been possible, thanks to building codes regarding earthquakes. Officials in Turkey are now looking in on the possibility of setting a new set of building codes to prevent other future incidents.
And even more good news: Despite the panic that the world is coming to an end, geologists have acknowledged this myriad of earthquakes as clusters. Scientists describe clusters as earthquakes happening all at once instead of spread out like they usually are. Every year, there is an average of 17 earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 to 7.9, but most are not given much coverage because they happen underwater or in areas where they can cause little damage.
Though there really is no way for scientists to predict earthquakes, should one strike, remember that the best way to ride one out is to be prepared in advance. Ivana added a last reminder to all: “Everyone in California, make sure your earthquake boxes are ready!”
The bad news: In the past two months, there have been earthquakes occurring all over the globe and nine that have reached at least a 6.0 magnitude.
On Feb. 26, Japan was hit by a 7.0 earthquake, the epicenter just off the Japanese coast. Though there have been nine deaths reported so far, a small number compared to what could have happened, 12 people are still missing and 200 people have been injured after the quake. Japanese officials immediately issued tsunami warnings after the earthquake hit, but the biggest tsunami to strike was a four inch wave and warnings have since then been downgraded. There have been more than 200 aftershocks since Saturday.
The next day, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 occurred off the coast of Chile on Feb. 27, with the epicenter just north-northeast of its second largest city, Concepción. The death toll is currently close to 500, a growing number of people are being listed as missing, and over 500,000 homes have been severely damaged or completely destroyed by the quake.
In a little than a week later, a magnitude 6.4 quake struck Taiwan on Mar. 4. Following that was a 6.5-magnitude earthquake offshore of Sumatra, Indonesia on Mar. 5. In Taiwan, although almost 100 people were injured in the quake, there have not yet been any reports of deaths, and the quake in Sumatra caused no major incidents.
Several days later, on Mar. 8, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 struck eastern Turkey in the early morning at 4:30 a.m. while many were sleeping. The quake and 100 aftershocks resulted in a bit more than 50 reported deaths and 30 injuries. The stone and mud-brick homes that many citizens lived in were completely reduced to the ground in a matter of minutes.
All the earthquakes and destruction wreaked by them are frightening, to say the least. “Just the seemingly-never ending trends of these earthquakes and the disaster and horror it has caused is truly shocking and heartbreaking,” said sophomore Ivana Ro. “My prayers are with the victims and those affected by them.”
Despite all the bad news, there actually is good news: Buildings cannot be built to be 100% earthquake-proof, but they can be built to resist earthquakes as best they can. Some agree this is why Chile, despite experiencing an 8.8 magnitude earthquake, had less than one four-hundredth the number of casualties that came from the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Haiti. Japanese, Sumatra, and Taiwan were also spared of the many deaths that could have been possible, thanks to building codes regarding earthquakes. Officials in Turkey are now looking in on the possibility of setting a new set of building codes to prevent other future incidents.
And even more good news: Despite the panic that the world is coming to an end, geologists have acknowledged this myriad of earthquakes as clusters. Scientists describe clusters as earthquakes happening all at once instead of spread out like they usually are. Every year, there is an average of 17 earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 to 7.9, but most are not given much coverage because they happen underwater or in areas where they can cause little damage.
Though there really is no way for scientists to predict earthquakes, should one strike, remember that the best way to ride one out is to be prepared in advance. Ivana added a last reminder to all: “Everyone in California, make sure your earthquake boxes are ready!”