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Seismicity and Seismotectonic of the Region

According to available seismic records and Global Position System (GPS) measurements, most countries located in the West and Central Asia are exposed to seismic hazards. This is partially related to the continental convergence and active crustal shortening between the African, Arabian, and the Indian plate northwards with respect to the Eurasian plate (Figure 1). According to Ambraseys et al. (2002), the historical record confirms that some regions that are active today (e.g., the North Anatolian fault zone) were also active during the past 2,500 years, demonstrating the long-term nature of their seismicity. It also shows that some regions that are, at present, quiescent (such as the Jordan Rift Valley), are capable of generating relatively large earthquakes. For some of these events, this is consistent with their known active tectonic environment. In historical periods, many moderate and almost all of the small events were missed out; however, after installation of the World Wide Seismic Standard Network (WWSSN) seismograms in this region and around the world, and by improving the seismograms gradually, we have now fairly good information about the earthquake events in this region.

Figure 1: Horizontal velocity field for a major part of the Alpine-Himalayan chain. The blue vectors are presented by McClusky et al. (2000), the red vectors by Wang et al. (2001), the black vectors by Vernant et al. (2004), and the white vectors are the Nuvel1-A plate velocity model by DeMets et al. (1994)

Using the ISC reviewed bulletin, in Figure 2, seismicity of the region from 2000 to 2018 is presented. As it is clear from this figure, the West and Central Asia region is a highly earthquake-prone zone. Similarly in Figure 3, the active faults of the region are shown. The active faults of the region depicted in this figure are based on GEM Global Active Faults Database (Styron and Pagani, 2020).

Figure 2: Seismicity of the region from 2010 to 2018 based on ISC reviewed bulletin

Figure 3: Seismicity and active faults of the West and Central Asia (Styron and Pagani, 2020)

The countries located in West and Central Asia have been, throughout their history, exposed to devastating natural hazards with geophysical or hydro-metrological origins. Of most important perils that have affected these countries over the past decades, earthquakes could be distinguished. In order to respond and enhance the degree of preparedness for the impacts of earthquakes, different measures have been taken into account by national and local governments by now. However, there are still many activities that should be addressed for capacity building in these countries for earthquake risk mitigation and management. Among the priority activities for improving the emergency response, developing Rapid Loss Estimation Systems (RLES) is of utmost importance. RLES by providing an initial estimation of fatalities and severity of damages helps the disaster management authorities to appropriately allocate available resources. This issue has significant impact on reducing the number of deaths and secondary damages especially in the first 24 hours after the event (The Golden Time). Having a look on earthquakes occurred in the region during the last decades depicts the importance of developing RLES. For instance after the 1999, Kocaeli, Turkey earthquake, the central government was not aware of the severity and scale of the damage until several hours after the event. In Rudbar-Manjil 1990, Iran earthquake, the search and rescue teams were unaware about the most affected sites for some days, due to initial wrong information provided regarding epicenter of the event and difficulties in identification of damaged area. These issues caused further casualties and irreversible socio-economic consequences. Similar issues are reported about Bam, Iran Earthquake (2003), Spitak, Armenia Earthquake (1988), Ashgabat, Turkmenistan Earthquake (1948) and many other events. In order to evaluate the current situation of earthquake monitoring systems and damage assessment tools in the West and Central Asia, a project was formulated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) considering its essential responsibility in assisting countries to respond to disasters. The project falls under the first thematic area “Disaster Risk Financing for Early-Action”. Within the framework of that project entitled ‘Feasibility study Establishment of Regional Earthquake Monitoring Systems (REMS) and developing quick damage and loss assessment system in Central and West Asia”, UNESCO selected the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES) and Regional Education and Research Center on Earthquake Risk Management and Resilience for West and Central Asia, as consultants for implementing the project in collaboration with other states in the region. Accordingly, having a look on the seismicity of different countries located in the West and Central Asia, the available earthquake monitoring systems and damage and loss assessment tools in these countries were assessed, based on the existing data as well as information provided by some member states. In addition, the shortages and benefits of available systems were addressed and finally the necessary measures and needs for developing regional quick damage and loss assessment systems were introduced. This will be an essential step for rapid response after earthquake that has a crucial impact on reducing casualties and damage of earthquakes. For more information, please contact us.

People with disabilities often face different physical barriers, communication problems, or other issues that may prevent them to behave properly in emergency conditions. For example, during an earthquake, children usually take shelter under school desks or benches, but such reactions are impossible for those on wheelchairs. Similarly, children with hearing or vision impairments may also not be able to recognize warnings and cannot evacuate dangerous places, in time. Many children with mental disorders have also no perception about dangers and warnings, and as a result they could be exposed to additional difficulties at the time of crisis. In addition, these children cannot appropriately use the available services and supports provided by emergency response teams. Therefore, when an earthquake occurs, people with disabilities are more at risk and suffer more difficulties than other sections of the society. In order to reduce the effects of earthquakes on PWD, it is necessary to improve their preparedness to face possible dangers and challenges in disasters. In this regard, development of appropriate disaster risk management guidelines and programs is essential. This is also indicated in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR). That document emphasizes the necessity of empowerment of people with disabilities, and governments are responsible to provide equal opportunities for PWD to enable them to participate in the design and implementation of disaster risk reduction policies and plans. Considering the importance of improving the preparedness of children with disabilities to face earthquakes, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), defined a project entitled “Comprehensive earthquake preparedness education plan for children with special needs and disabilities” and the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES), and the UNESCO Category 2 Regional Center for Risk and Resilience in West and Central Asia (RCECWA) were selected as the project’s consultants. In the framework of that project, some guidelines were prepared to address challenges of children with different types of disabilities before to after an earthquake. For this purpose, different measures that should be considered in risk reduction, preparedness, emergency response as well as recovery and reconstruction were outlined into different guidelines for care givers, trainers and relevant stakeholders. For further information please contact us.