Earthquake Hazards and Risk Mitigation in Pakistan

Abstract

Earthquakes proved to be the most devastating natural disaster with a high mortality rate and wide spread destruction. Earthquake induced ground shaking plays a key role in excessive ground deformation and infrastructure damage, and in triggering secondary hazards such as landslides, flooding, tsunamis, fire and liquefaction. The intensity and duration of an earthquake induced ground shaking depends on magnitude, depth of hypocenter, medium traversed by seismic waves; and physical and geotechnical characteristics of the site. Tools of GIS and remote sensing are frequently and effectively used for earthquake hazard, vulnerability and risk assessment and assist in developing risk reduction strategies. Pakistan is located in one of the most earthquake prone region with many devastating earthquakes in the past and active tectonic shows that there might be more earthquakes in future. Hence it is crucial to perform earthquake hazard assessment across the country and subsequently develop and implement strategies for earthquake risk mitigation. Subsequent to facing extensive devastation by the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, the government has realized the importance of earthquake management and hence encouraged the scientific research aiming for earthquake hazard assessment and strategies for risk reduction. Moreover, organizations have been established mainly dedicated for natural disaster management. However, the magnitude of prevailing earthquake induced risk needs detailed earthquake hazard assessment, design earthquake resistant structures; implement the seismic building codes and public awareness to adopt for earthquake risk reduction.