Vol. 4, No. 1 October 1998
Editor's Corner | AUDMP - making cities safer...
Asian Urban Disaster Mitigation Program (AUDMP) Hilights Earthquake Scenario for Kathmandu Valley As a key event under the Kathmandu Valley Earthquake Risk Management Project (KVERMP), the National Society of Earthquake Technology - Nepal (NSET) hosted the Kathmandu Earthquake Scenario and Action Plan Development Workshop, February 19 - 21. The workshop brought together 30 senior-level managers of lifeline/critical facilities and emergency response organizations within Kathmandu Valley and another 40 observers from various national and international institutions. The workshop focused on the following questions: If a serious earthquake occurred in Kathmandu Valley today (of the same magnitude as did in 1934), what would be the likely effect? What plans can we make today to reduce the effects of such an earthquake? Workshop participants were presented with a grim scenario for Kathmandu Valley based on project investigations. Preliminary estimates indicate that, out of the present population of 1.2 million, about 40,000 people would die and about 95,000 would require hospitalization. (Existing hospitals have a combined capacity of 2,200 beds.) About 60% of the valley's building stock is expected to be damaged beyond repair, leading to approximately 900,000 homeless people. Extensive damage to road networks, telephone, electricity and water supply systems is also projected. The damage, by any estimate, would far exceed the existing response capabilities. As a result of the workshop, participants realized the severity of the problem and the need to undertake vulnerability reduction measures in their respective organizations. Also participants formed a new network -- with NSET identified as the node -- to continue to coordinate and cooperate on matters related to earthquake disaster risk reduction for Kathmandu Valley.
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