Lesson learnt from  Myanmar quake

The death and devastation caused by the Friday's earthquake of 7.7 Moment magnitude scale (Mw) in Myanmar have been on the rise with rescuers accessing the worst affected areas near Mandalay. By Monday the death toll was approaching the 3,000 mark and the number of the injured closing to 5,000. The US Geological Survey which measured the quake's magnitude estimates on the basis of its modelling that the death toll may exceed 10,000 and the losses surpass the country's annual output. For the strife-torn and military junta-led country, the seismic convulsion of this magnitude could not come at a worse time. Although the junta controls the main urban centres, the wider parts of the country has been captured by the National Unity Government (NUG) representing its armed wing, the People's Defence Force (PDF) and other rebel groups. To the junta, the overwhelming concern is to stay in power rather than coordinating a rescue operation in collaboration with countries possessing the required machines and tools as well as expertise in such an emergency.

Although the PDF has suspended its armed hostility, except in self defence, for two weeks, the military government still continued air strikes in some areas, drawing international criticism. However, to its credit, the administration in Nay Pyi Taw has made a rare appeal for international help following which aid from China and India started arriving in the country. How the relief materials will be distributed among the survivors may remain contentious with the warring parties not cooperating at this critical time. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has made it clear that the crisis of medical care, clean drinking water, food, tent and other basic materials is acute. In the absence of electricity, the situation has become worse still. If the military authorities themselves fail to actively respond to the emergency, the international community cannot rise up to the challenges of this humanitarian service.

The quake that has struck Myanmar was felt in its neighbouring countries including Bangladesh. In Thailand an under-construction high-rise building collapsed, killing at least 14 people there and the total casualty reaching at least 21. This tremor did not cause any loss of life or property in Bangladesh but it surely is a wake-up call for the country that finds itself located at the convergence of the Indian, Eurasian and Burmese tectonic plates. Naturally, the country is earthquake-prone. Although no major seismic disaster took place since the last one of 7.2 Mw struck Netrokona on July 8, 1918, the frequent mild tremors of recent years may be indicative, according to seismologists, of one quite ominous.

Sure enough, a civilian government unlike the military junta in Myanmar is expected to marshal all the forces and capabilities it has under its disposal to respond to such a likely crisis. But the fact is, the Bangladesh authorities have failed to procure the advanced machines and equipment to deal with a severe post-quake crisis. The urban mess in Dhaka and Chattogram ---the latter to have experienced the greatest seismic jolts measuring 6.2 Mw and 5.5 Mw as late as November 26, 2021 and December 2, 2023 respectively---may present a disaster of cataclysmic proportion in case a quake of greater magnitude strikes. In Dhaka, the Fire Service and Civil Defence was supposed to train 62,000 volunteers but hardly have such drills been noticeable. The situation demands procurement of sophisticated and heavy-duty machines and tools along with readying trained volunteers to deal with quake crisis, if any.