Earthquake & Tsunami Chittagong is located at the Meghalaya fault zone in India and is a seismically active area.

It is facing regular tremors. Recently, there are earthquakes occurring causing damage and cracking in masonry buildings in Chittagong city. Tsunami risk, which is regarded as a secondary hazard of earthquake, is also occurred in the coastal location of Chittagong. Although no recent history stated that tsunami occur in Bangladesh, there are local stated that a huge wave in 1995 that flowed 2-3 kilometers inland and flooded the Chittagong. Another tsunami event need to be noticed is Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004 years. In that event, Bangladesh does not face any impact. However, it was close enough to take alarm. (K. Iftekhar Ahmed, 2007). Prevention The earthquakes event in an earthquake prone area cannot be prevented. However, the thing that can be done is to predict of an earthquake and issue a warning so that loss of life and property can be reduced. Although exact prediction is not always possible, a suitable valid prediction of an earthquake will definitely reduce the loss of life and property. (Earthquake in Bangladesh, n.d.). For the earthquake, the earthquake warning system shown in appendix 1 can be used. This system automatically gives out the alerts through television and cell phones immediately after detect the first, less harmful, shock wave. (Knight, W, 2011). There is Earthquake Observation Center established by Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) in Chittagong. The centre is normally monitor earthquake events and record their characteristics, but do not deal with emergency telecommunication. (K. Iftekhar Ahmed, 2007). For the tsunami, tsunami buoys work shown in appendix 2 can be used. It is a string of detection buoys in the ocean that can detect the tsunami caused by the earthquake. (Knight, W., 2011). A tsunami Early Warning System has been developed. However, perception of tsunami risk is usually low. Early warning of tsunami can be done by BMD, which is under Ministry of Defense (MoD). BMDs Earthquake Observation Centers is able to develop local tsunami EWS by monitoring nearby seismic activity. (K. Iftekhar Ahmed, 2007). Mitigation Earthquake does not endanger life but collapse of building does. As a result, mitigation should be focus on increasing the stability of the buildings and other infrastructure. This can be done by introducing various structural and non-structural mitigation measures that can resist the shocks of earthquake. In 1992, the Bangladesh Government hires a team of consultants to come out with a National Building Code. In this code, present data that has been reviewed completely is undertaken. Seismic hazard map also has been revised and compiled. The results have been used in the Bangladesh National Building Code. (SAARC, 2009). In the city, all building construction should follow the Bangladesh National Building Code. This is because the building constructed which followed the code will withstand the impact of earthquake and not easily collapse. Therefore, people in the building can have chance and sufficient times to escape from building as earthquake do happen. However, building made earthquake resistant cannot be done by just following the building codes. The building codes can only be a best starting point. The engineers, architects and masons must be able to understand and implement the building codes. According to Abul Kalam from Bangladesh University of Engineering and

Technology, most of the building construction in major cities is not following the building codes. (Irin, 2011). Therefore, the municipal authorities must be able to enforce the building codes. With the knowledge and the enforcement of the building code, the life and properties loss from consequence of the earthquake in the city can be mitigated. Besides, there is non-structural mitigation. This is to prevent the heavy objects from falling down to cause injuries and deaths. Tall and heavy cupboards should be properly fixed to the walls. Heavy objects should not be put in the upper-selves. Large picture frames, mirrors, blackboards, water heaters and so on should also be fixed properly to the wall. All objects, that is possible to fall during the occurrence of earthquake and hurt the residents, should be fixed properly and restrained from falling. (Guwahati & Assam, 2011). For the tsunami risk, mitigation can be done by land use management. According to International Tsunami Survey Team (ITST), residents should not be living in front and back of the water. The schools, churches, and other critical facilities should never be built closer than 400m from the coastline, and 800m is sufficient in at-risk areas. In addition, building code should be used for the building construction. Besides, preserve dunes and other natural barriers should be used to mitigate. According to Professor Hugh Davies in Earth Talk, sand dunes and sandy berms can give some protection from tsunami. As the wave pass across a berm, the obstructions will make it losing energy. (Pacific Disaster Center, 2005).

Preparedness Since city located in the earthquake zone, the communities and city need to prepare for the risk in occurrence of earthquake. In city region, there must have a disaster management plan and responsible organizations to be identified. In the disaster management plan, medical preparedness should be included. This is the plan improving emergency medical response. Medical preparedness plan should concentrate on possible injuries, sufficient store of medicines and surgical equipments, readiness of x-ray machines and ambulances, outbreak of diseases and other public health problems after the earthquake. (SAARC, 2009). Besides, prepared can be done by teaching people to Drop, Cover, and Hold. As the there is first sign of earthquake shaking, people should drop to the ground. Next take cover by getting under a study table or other piece of furniture. Then hold on until the earthquake stop. (Ratu Epeli Ganilau, n.d.). For the tsunami, public outreach and education should be implemented. People should know what to do as the precaution of tsunami. As the public have been educated about the tsunami hazard, communities become informed and take initiative in preparation for tsunami. People are educated to identify the warning signs of an impending tsunami. People can also prepare and maintain escape routes to higher ground and discuss how to help children and persons with limited mobility. (Pacific Disaster Center, 2005). The authorities can to include tsunami risk in the school curriculum and textbooks, and creating a yearly national tsunami or natural hazard day. (Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, 2006).This is because tsunami never occurs in Bangladesh before and people might ignore the tsunami risk. Moreover local emergency officials may not have

sufficient time to give a warning to people as tsunami created by a near-shore earthquake occurs. (British Columbia, n.d.). Emergency Response As the earthquake occurs in the city, there must be emergency managers who is trained and in charge in implementing emergency response activity. (SAARC, 2009). A team of rescue trained personnel and equipment must be sufficient in searching and rescuing people. Equipment had to be provided by different government and private organizations. The Armed Forces need to be trained in term of searching and rescuing people underneath the collapse building. Besides, there should be medical response in the earthquake event. Medical facilities should independently play a role in evacuating patient, procuring medical supplies and obtaining blankets to protect patient from cold temperatures. (Osamu Kunii, Masumi Akagi & Etsuko Kita, 1995). Specific mobile medical team should be organized for handling injuries. (Tahmeed MalikAl-Hussaini & Md. Naz Akhter Hossain, 2008). The authorities should request for international assistance about 13 hours after the earthquake. An alarm system should be designed to be able inform national authorities and international organizations in the shortest time. The foreign medical facilities available during the first 24 hours of a disaster are expected to come from the closest countries to the city. (Hassan Abolghasemi et. Al, 2006). Then emergency response is followed by providing the emergency shelter to victim. Emergency shelter can be tents, plastic sheeting and building materials provided to the victim affected by the earthquake. It can decrease the risk of exposure to cold weather and heavy rain. (UNHCR, 2008). For the tsunami, the emergency response is similar to the earthquake. Rescuing and searching should be done by assistance from national, other countries and international organizations. (Road, J,W & Hawaii, T.AMC.,2011). There should be medical response team to treat lacerations and infected wounds of patients, especially in feet and leg, caused during the tsunami. The team should also ensure that sufficient antibiotic and dressing material be provided to patient. (Gilsenan, B A, Patu, C& Smith, I B J., 2009).

Reference 1. SAARC. (2009). SAARC Workshop on Earthquake Risk Management in South Asia. New Delhi, Pakistan. 2. Irin. (2011). Bangladesh: Concerns Over Earthquake Preparedness. Retrieved 2011, October 22 from http://www.irinnews.org/printreport.aspx?reportid=79964 3. Tahmeed MalikAl-Hussaini & Md. Naz Akhter Hossain. (2008). Post-Disaster Management Issues Related to Building Collapse in Bangladesh. Paper presented at conference at Davos, Switzerland 4. Earthquake in Bangladesh (n.d.). Retrieved 2011, October 22 from http://www.scribd.com/doc/6956055/Earthquake-in-Bangladesh 5. K. Iftekhar Ahmed. (2007). Emergency Telecommunications and Early Warning Systems for Disaster Preparedness in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Chittagong, Bangladesh 6. Knight, W. (2011). How Japan's Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Systems WorK. Retrieved 2011, October 22 from http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/26505/ Gilsenan, B A, Patu, C& Smith, I B J.(2009). Samoa Medical Journal .A Report On Oceania University Of Medicines Emergency Response Team (Oumert) Activities Following The Samoan Tsunami On The 29th September 2009. 7-12 7. Osamu Kunii, Masumi Akagi & Etsuko Kita (1995). Medicine & Global Survival. The Medical and Public Health Response to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in Japan: A Case Study in Disaster Planning. Vol. 2, No. 4. 214-226 8. Hassan Abolghasemi et. al (2006) Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. International Medical Response to a Natural Disaster: Lessons Learned from the Bam Earthquake Experience. Vol. 21,No. 3. 142-147 9. Road, J,W & Hawaii, T.AMC. (2011). In Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance. Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. 1-27 10. UNHCR (2008). Final Report on UNHCR Emergency Response to Sichuan earthquake. The UN Refugee Agency. 11. Ratu Epeli Ganilau(n.d.). Teachershandbook Disaster Management & Earthquake Preparedness. The Minister of Defense, National Security, National Disaster Management Office & Immigration. 12. Norwegian Geotechnical Institute. (2006). Tsunami Risk Mitigation Strategy for Thailand. Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 13. Guwahati & Assam. (2011). National Workshop on Earthquake Risk Mitigation Strategy in North East. National Institute of Disaster Management. New Delhi. 14. Pacific Disaster Center (2005). Tsunami Awareness Kit General Tsunami Resources Tsunami Mitigation Strategies. 1-7

15. British Columbia. (n.d.).Tsunami Preparedness. Ministry Of Public Safety And Solicitor General 16. Pacific Disaster Center. (2005). General Tsunami Resources. Tsunami Mitigation Strategies. 1-7

Appendix 2 The figure above shows how the Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami (DART) tsunami buoys work.

Appendix 1 The figure above shows the stages involved with triggered earthquake warning system used by the Japan.