a very keen observation indeed! We have developed a similar thinking after
the experience of latur earthquake in 93 (toll: 10000) and chamoli
earthquake in 1999 (toll: 100) in India. These quakes affected rural areas
with predominantly unengineered buildings of heavy stones in rubble
masonry. Those who remained inside were simply crushed to death. These
being economically weaker communities, their homes do not even have the
sturdy `table' that we always talk about and depict in our awareness
material, under which people are supposed to duck. They have nothing under
which to take cover. For most, the only way is to run...
anshu
At 01:49 PM 6/6/00 PDT, you wrote:
>During the 8:00 a.m. news this morning on Radio Scotland, the BBC's Richard
>Galpin reported from the scene of the June 4 earthquake on Sumatra that many
>people had survived because they managed to get out of their houses during
>the earthquake (or that was my understanding; I could not find this thought
>replicated on the BBC website).
>
>I understand that literature on how to act during a earthquake normally
>states "stop, drop, and take cover", or stay in a well-supported area of the
>building, until the shaking stops and then exit the building and stay away
>from structures. This material, though, is normally geared towards
>developed countries and I would guess that it makes the assumption that the
>structure has been engineered to the best of our ability to withstand the
>forces induced by earthquakes.
>
>I would be curious to know if anyone could confirm Galpin's report that many
>people survived this earthquake, or others in the past, because they left
>their houses during the shaking. From those who have experienced a severe
>earthquake, would such action actually be possible? As well, what would be
>the best manner of trying to survive an earthquake in a structure which has
>not been properly engineered to avoid collapse during an earthquake?
>
>Thank you very much for your time,
>Ilan
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>
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Anshu Sharma
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