On March 28, a 7.7 -magnitude earthquake hit central myanmar, destructive communities and the murder of at least 3,500 people. The earthquake also caused to dominate the buildings, even to collapse, at the tourist hot spot of Bangkok. The videos posted online showed water from the pools on the top floor leaking over the sides of high -rise hotels.
Scientists cannot predict exactly where the next major earthquake will occur, although many popular holiday destinations such as California, Chile, Fiji, Italy, Japan, Mexico and Caribbean are in active seismic zones. If you are planning to travel to them or other areas prone to earthquake, there are a few steps you can take to stay safe.
Take advantage of technology
Before you go, do some basic internet research to see if your destination has experienced important earthquakes.
Identify which local service issues guidance and information during disaster and check that your destination has an earthquake early. These sensor networks automatically analyze large earthquakes as they begin and then send a notice, giving these infected seconds to prepare before the ground begins to move.
“Seconds Matter”, in an earthquake, said Sara McBride, a scientist with the US earthquake risk program. It showed the material from a Taiwan maternity chamber during a 7.4 -magnitude earthquake last year, when a notification sent a trio of nurses mixed to push twelve cunning together, keeping newborns safely as the building burst.
Some systems send notifications directly to your phone when earthquakes occur. You can also download applications such as Sassla for Mexico, Safetytips or NERV for Japan and Myshake in the United States to receive warnings. Also, register with the Smart Traveler Registration program of the Foreign Ministry and leave a copy of your journey with friends or family, as earthquakes often stop contact lines.
“A little research can really make a difference,” said Dr. McBride.
Pour, cover and hold
In most earthquakes, experts advise three simple actions to protect yourself: fall, cover and hold.
Earthquakes cause soil movement in unpredictable ways, sometimes abrupt injury, sometimes swing like a ship in raw seas. To avoid falling, pour in your hands and knees (or if you use a wheelchair, lock the wheels). Cover your head and neck with your hands. Crawl under a durable table or office if located near, or next to an inner wall, if not. (The search for shelter at a door is no longer recommended.)
Then hold it. If you are under a table, grab one leg with one hand and stay until the stops stop. The larger the earthquake, the longer it will last. For example, the 9.1 -sized earthquake that hit Japan in 2011 continued for almost six minutes.
If you are indoors, resist the desire to run out. You could hit with a fall of debris or hit on the ground. If you are outdoors, stay out and try to get away from buildings, roads, lines of electricity and trees. Dr. McBride warned that every movement during an earthquake can be dangerous. Even up during the heavy steering is difficult.
Practice what you would do in an earthquake. “You don’t want to know how to use a fire extinguisher when your garage is on fire,” said Brian Blake, executive director of the United States Central Consortium.
Type
While the tips to stay in and fall, cover and keep it valid for most cases, does not apply to everyone. According to the earthquake country alliance, if you are on the ground floor of a building built with minimal inputs by architects or engineers, such as mud structures, this is the only example in which you should consider moving out during an earthquake.
Dr. McBride informed the research of local protocols on earthquake response. Many times the manager or security officer in your hotel can provide guidance.
Such local knowledge was invaluable to Christine Bedenis, 37, by Detroit, who was backpacking in Nepal in 2015, when an earthquake struck 7.8. Shortly after the ground it was exhausted, the dogs outside a restaurant began to bark – a sign that a posture is coming – and the locals dug everyone from the stone and the wooden building, which was not built to endure to move.
It is not over when the shake stops
Once the earthquake recedes, there are still many risks remaining – gas lines, damaged cables, fires and more. Coastal earthquakes are particularly dangerous due to possible tsunami. If you are on a shore when an intense earthquake hits, “immediately move the inland on foot,” said Wendy Bohon, a geologist and communication scientist in California.
In addition, aftershocks are inevitable with a large earthquake and can cause additional damage. If you are in a heavily damaged building and you can go out, take your documents and medicines with you, as you may not be able to enter again.
The cellular networks are often overloaded after earthquakes, so try sending a text message or publish on social media – using features such as Facebook security check – instead of making a voice call to tell friends and family you are okay. Some newer phones also allow you to send text messages and share your location via satellite if the cell networks are down.
