Earthquakes cause total devastation when they strike, and nearly every part of the planet has some degree of risk, although there are certain areas that are more prone than others. Bangladesh, India and Myanmar are vulnerable to a mega-thrust earthquake – a powerful 9.0 magnitude quake, according to research published in Nature Geoscience.
Although property damage is terrible, what is really of concern is the loss of life.
Possibly the behaviour patterns of the older generation are more difficult to change, but that argument cannot be used for the young. Throughout Asia, schools have started teaching their students how to react in the event of an earthquake.
Upon hearing a second bell, they walk out of the classroom, covering their heads with books and bags. These simple drills, practised regularly, may save countless lives, should a real event occur. In the past, when tremors occurred during school hours, students panicked and ran straight out of the classroom.
In an attempt to avoid large-scale casualties during earthquakes, a set of procedures has been devised on how to deal with disaster in primary and secondary schools. Schools are particularly vulnerable because they concentrate children in a small area.
This is because the loss of young lives directly impacts the future of such communities. In 2005, an earthquake in Kashmir killed 19,000 children, mostly due to widespread collapse of school buildings. Three years later, two earthquakes hit Sichuan, China, killing more than 5,000 students, as thousands of classrooms collapsed. The director of one school commented that he plans to hold regular drill training.
The students could use these lessons in case of a real situation, and with some luck, they may just save a few lives. Now that is a lesson worth learning.