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Vol. 3, No. 2 June 1997 |
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Vol. 3, No. 2 June 1997 |
| Editor's Corner
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Disaster News ...
Earthquake in India A small to medium intensity earthquake rocked central India on May 22, 1997, killing about 56 people and injuring over 1000. The earthquake measuring 6.0 on Richter scale struck at 4:22 a.m. near Jabalpur, a city in the state of Madhya Pradesh about 640 km southeast of New Delhi. The city of Jabalpur is inhabited by nearly 1 million people. The quakeÕs epicenter was in nearby Kosamghat village (25 km southeast of Jabalpur), where nearly 200 mud houses were flattened, leaving more than 1,000 residents homeless. The Narmada valley area in Jabalpur district was the worst affected. Adjacent districts like Manlia, Seoni, Narsinghpur, Chhindwara, Sagar, Satna, Durg, Ujjain, Bundelkhand, Rewa and Bhopal were also affected. Water and electric supply were disrupted and the rail network was also affected. According to the district administration the loss to property was estimated at Rs. 500 crores (US$ 143 million). Preliminary estimates state that 12,759 houses suffered heavy damage. Nearly 13,000 households lost their homes. The loss appeared to be greater in rural areas, where 107 villages were badly hit. Source: UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-DHA)
Cyclone in Bangladesh On May 19, 1997 the flat coastal region of Chittagong and CoxÕs bazaar areas in Bangladesh was severely hit by a tropical cyclone with a wind velocity of up to 200 km/h and tidal surge 10-12 feet high. According to the government estimates, as of May 22, 95 people were dead and more than 7,000 people were injured. Nearly 2,000 cattleheads were lost. The cyclone, affecting nearly two million people, caused severe damage to more than half a million houses, more than six hundred educational buildings, 29,000 hectares of crops and 152 km of embankments. Unlike the 1991 cyclone, casualities and devastation caused by the cyclone were remarkably low because it hit during low tide at day time and also due to good preparedness in the form of timely storm warning, availability of cyclone shelters and availability of cyclone shelters and evacuation of people at high risk areas. According to the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-DHA) following contributions were announced as part of international assistance to be channelled through NGOs operating in the affected area: UN-DHA: US$ 500,000; Australia: US$ 77,000; Canada: US$ 100,000; France: US$ 35,000; Sweden: US$ 240,000; United Kingdom: US$ 160,000; and United States: US$ 640,000. Source: UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-DHA)
Earthquakes In Iran Different parts of Iran were rocked by three major earthquake events since end of February this year. May On 10 May 1997, a strong earthquake hit Birjand and Ghaen in the southern part of Khorasan Province in eastern Iran. According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake measured 7.3 on the Richter scale. The epicenter is reported to be in the Darmian District to the east of Birjand (latitude 33.7 degrees north and longitude 59.7 degrees east). Its origin time was 07.58 am GMT or 12.28 p.m. local time. More than 1,500 people were reported killed and over 2,500 severely injured. Nearly 72,000 people staying in 147 villages in Ghaen, Birjand and Khouaf were affected. The loss of cattle was estimated at 42,000. More than 19,000 houses were severely damaged, with over 12,000 being completely collapsed. Over 315 km of potable water pipeline was damaged in 44 villages. Approximately 400 km of power network and sub-stations were destroyed. More than 140 school buildings and more than 50 medical centers suffered 30 to 100 percent damage. Total damage was estimated to be approximately US $ 90 million, of which US $ 30 million in the public sector and US $ 60 million in the private sector. The Government of Iran has earmarked approximately US $ 3.3 million for emergency operation and approved the budget of approximately US $ 9 million and US $ 4.6 million as banking facilities/credit for reconstruction activities. The international community responded very generously to Iranian GovernmentÕs Appeal for assistance. By 19 May, 1997 cash and in-kind contributions worth US $ 10.5 million were pledged by various organizations of the UN system, international government organizations, governments, NGOs and Red Cross and Red Crescent societies (through IFRC). February and March An earthquake of magnitude 5.5 hit the Sarab and Meshkin region of Ardebil province of Iran, 420 km northwest of Teheran, on 28 February 1997. On 2 March another earthquake of magnitude 5.1 hit the same area. In the week following these major shocks, more than 1,000 aftershocks were recorded. According to the Iranian authorities 965 people were killed and 2,600 injured. These earthquakes affecting 127 villages caused severe damage to 12,000 houses and reduced another 8,500 houses to rubble. Considerable damage was also reported to school buildings, medical facilities, communication centers, religious buildings, water systems and roads. The total financial damage was estimated at approximately US $ 76 millions, of which approximately US $ 52 millions was sustained by the non-governmental sector. National response was provided by provincial and national authorities and the Iranian Red Crescent Society which distributed tents, blankets, heaters and large quantities of food supplies. Inspite of the severe climatic conditions the relief operations were reported to be efficient. Source: UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-DHA)
Earthquake in Pakistan In Pakistan, an earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale jolted parts of Balochistan and Sindh provinces on February 28. Tremors of lower intensity continued to rock the area until a week later. Affected areas include: Bolan, Jhal Magsi, Usta Mohammed and Jacobabad in Sindh province; Sibi, Bugti and Marri tribal agencies; Mithri, Chaman, Qila Abdulla, Qila Saifulah, Pishin, Ziarat, Mastung, Kalat, Sorab, Khuzdar and the entire Koh-e-Suleiman range in Balochistan province. Worst affected areas were Harnai sub-division and Sibi. The death toll was estimated at 80, while over two hundred people were reported hurt. Two villages in Harnai sub-division Ñ Ander Shehr and Mian Kach were razed to the ground (this area suffered the most casualties Ñ23). Nearly 50-60% of houses were either destroyed or badly damaged in the adjoining villages of Beelee, Kazza Killi, Sonyadi, Kot Ali Khan, and Soor Kach. Source: Disaster Mitigation Network, Pakistan |
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