Over the last few weeks we have reported at Safe Communities Portugal on several major earthquakes, for instance in Greece, Crete and Japan, but fortunately these did not result in a large number of casualties or widespread infrastructural damage.
We hope in Portugal that we will never have to experience a major earthquake, but if we do the action we take in the first few seconds can determine whether or not we become a casualty.
Each day around 10-15 minor earth tremors take place in or around the Portugal mainland, the majority off the south and south west coast of the country. Far more around the Azores.
No need for panic, however, as these are very small, mostly less than 2.5 magnitude on the Richter scale, and are seldom felt. To put this in perspective there are some one to 1.3 million tremors of this size globally each year. Occasionally some are a little larger at 3-4 on the Richter scale but seldom cause any damage at this level.
However the 1755 earthquake that destroyed most of Lisbon and parts of the Algarve was much larger.
Seismologists today estimate the Lisbon earthquake had a magnitude in the range 8.5-9.0, with its epicentre in the Atlantic Ocean about 200 km (120 miles) west-southwest of Cape St. Vincent. Estimates place the death toll in Lisbon alone between 10,000 and 100,000 people, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes in history.
According to historical records, most of the earthquakes affecting Portugal (mainland) have epicentres south west of the Iberian Peninsula (Gorringe bank) or in the Lower Tagus Valley. The most vulnerable areas are the Lisbon urban area and Algarve south. Major earthquakes occurred in 1531, 1755, 1909 and 1969.
Creating awareness
Basically in an earthquake most people die and are injured attempting to leave the building down stairs. Injuries from falling items in fact account for an estimated 70% of all injuries according to experts.
Being prepared involves all of us by creating awareness of the risk and simple life protection measures we can take, should an earthquake strike.
Each year therefore the Portuguese Government (ANEPC) conducts what is known as the “A Terra Treme” exercise. Last year it was in November and over 700,000 people participated, by practicing “Drop, Cover, Hold On”. Most schools were involved as well as many businesses.
This year the ANEPC will promote on November 5, at 11:05am, the ninth edition of the national seismic risk awareness exercise. The date indicated for its realisation coincides with the World Tsunami Risk Awareness Day, an ephemeris instituted by the UN.
There are several ways in which you and your family, work colleagues can become involved, such as:
▪ Conducting sessions (for workers/employees) explaining preventive measures and self-protection actions to take at home and at the work sites in case of earthquake. Does your work place have an earthquake plan – it should do?
▪ Sharing the A Terra Treme website and other digital media of the involvement and participation in this initiative;
▪ Internal e-mail dissemination to all workers/employees of information about preventive measures and self-protection action be taken in case of earthquake / tsunami;
▪ Registering yourself and/or organisation registration on the digital site www.aterratreme.pt;
▪ Reviewing/testing emergency procedures aimed at addressing an earthquake and / or tsunami event.
Be prepared
Reading this you may feel that this is unlikely to happen, so why bother? But how many of you have earthquake insurance for your home or business? If so it is there for a reason, and that is that Portugal is one of the higher risk countries; SO BE PREPARED.
The ways to do this according to Civil Protection include: inquiring about the possible causes and effects of an earthquake in your area. Talk about it with your family and friends; make an emergency plan for your family; ensure everyone knows what to do in the event of an earthquake; decide a meeting place in advance, in case the family members separate during the earthquake and prepare your home by having clear corridors and passageways and hanging items securely fixed.
During an earthquake
Often the instinctive action people take during an earthquake is to try and escape by running to the outside of the property. However many people die by doing this from falling or from collapsing structures due to the violence of the shaking.
During an earthquake, if you are indoors in a building the advice to reduce injuries or worse is as follows: if you are on one of the upper floors of a building, do not rush to the stairs; never use elevators; take shelter in the interior doorway, in the corners of the rooms, or under a table or bed; head to an open location calmly, away from the sea or waterways; keep away from buildings (especially the most degraded, high or isolated) from electricity poles and other objects that may fall on you; get away from slopes, walls, chimneys and balconies that may collapse.
So unless you are next to an entrance the safest place is to drop to the floor, cover yourself under a table and hold on, known as, “DROP, COVER, HOLD ON”. Experience has shown that calm acting during an earthquake greatly contributes to minimizing casualties.
So at 11.05am this Thursday whether you are in your office or at home, practice these measures and take the preparation actions mentioned in this feature.
Comprehensive protection measure and details of earthquakes and tsunamis can be found on www.aterratreme.pt and our website www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/find-information/environment-and-weather/earthquake-tsunami/. This includes protection measures as well as a video we made and an ANEPC online booklet which we translated into English. Safe Communities Portugal is the only official Civil Protection Volunteer Organisation serving the international community in the English language in Portugal
By David Thomas
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David Thomas is a former Assistant Commissioner of the Hong Kong Police, consultant to INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
In 2011, he founded Safe Communities Algarve to help the authorities and the community prevent crime. It is now registered as Associação SCP Safe Communities Portugal, the first national association of its type in Portugal.
913 045 093
[email protected]
www.safecommunitiesportugal.com
