EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMIS

Meaning
Earthquake

- An earthquake occurs when two blocks of the earth’s crust suddenly slip past one another.
- The surface where they slip is called the fault or fault plane.
- The location below the earth’s surface where the earthquake starts is called the hypocenter;
- and the location directly above it on the surface of the earth is called the epicenter.

Tsunami

- Tsunami is a sequence of ocean waves that can deliver surges of water onto land that are over 100
feet (30.5 meters) high.
- When they crash ashore, these water walls have the potential to do extensive damage (National
Geographic).
Statistics/Facts Regarding Earthquakes and Tsunami

 The largest recorded earthquake in the world was a magnitude 9.5 (Mw) in Chile on May 22, 1960.
 Most earthquakes occur at depths of less than 80 km (50 miles) from the Earth’s surface.
 Earthquakes caused nearly 750,000 deaths globally from 1998-2017
 Annually, it is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world. 100,000 of
those can be felt, and 100 of them cause critical damages and injuries.
 The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami reached heights of 65 to 100 feet in Sumatra, caused more than
200,000 deaths from Indonesia to East Africa, and registered on tide gauges throughout the world.
What to Do?

 Before
o SECURE your space by evaluating potential hazards and securing moveable items.
o PLAN your evacuation route and secure means of communication with disaster agencies
and family members.
o ORGANIZE emergency supplies like food, flashlight and water located in accessible location
o MINIMIZE financial hardship by collating important documents and by getting your property
insured and strengthened.
 During
o DROP down onto your hands and knees. It allows for you to still move while avoiding the risk
of falling.
o COVER your head and neck or hide underneath a sturdy table or desk that serve as shelter.
In the absence of a shelter, lay low and position yourself beside low-lying furniture to avoid
falling debris or high-positioned furniture.
o HOLD ON to your shelter (or to your head and neck) until the shaking stops. Be vigilant and
watch out for possible falling debris. Prepare to move with your shelter in case the shaking
shifts it.
 After
o CHECK your safety. Monitor your surrounding and check for injuries and possible dangers
like gas leak, fire, etc.
o GET HELP if needed, contact emergency hotlines and protect yourself from dusts and debris
if trapped.
o PREPARE for imminent aftershocks.
o STAY CONNECTED and be updated with recent news and disaster response agencies.

Philippines as an Earthquake-Prone Country

 The “Ring of Fire” also called the Circum-Pacific belt, is the zone of earthquakes surrounding the
Pacific Ocean — about 90% of the world’s earthquakes occur there. The next most seismic region
 (5-6% of earthquakes) is the Alpide belt (extends from Mediterranean region, eastward through
Turkey, Iran, and northern India.

References
WHO, CDC, National Geographic, CalTech, USGS, CUSEC

https://www.who.int/health-topics/earthquakes#tab=tab_1
https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/tsunamis-and-tsunami-hazards
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/during.html
https://cusec.org/earthquake-safety-preparedness/before-an-earthquake/
https://scienceexchange.caltech.edu/topics/earthquakes/earthquakes-what-to-do
https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/cool-earthquake-facts
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/tsunamis
https://cusec.org/earthquake-safety-preparedness/before-an-earthquake/