The Big One - the earthquake is coming, but when? - [By: Jesper Lambaek]
Source: http://www.historiefabrikken.dk/index.php/projects/235-the-big-one-jordskaelvet-kommer-men-hvornar#jesper
Jesper Lambaek is a Danish filmmaker, currently in the process of making an interactive web-documentary about earthquake in Nepal.
In his own words:
"I want to tell a story about the city and its inhabitants. I want to share my fascination and love for the place. I want to try to influence the world to understand, that we must help Kathmandu to prepare for the quake. Through education, emergency planning and earthquake prevention. My movie can push on to that process. It can support the argument for preparation."
The worst that can happen -
The worst scenario is in the night. Katmandu sleeps. The inhabitants lie in their beds, on mattresses or rush mats and sleep. They are often manny in small rooms. The powerful tremors come without warning.
So many houses in Katmandu are striking rundown. The entire townscape is characterized by a haggard, ugly facade of unfinished and destroyed houses. I am no expert, but solid, they do not look. Many will collapse at the first shake. They will collapse over the sleeping. In Haiti, some say, 250000 people died within 40 seconds. How many will die here?
The survivors will pass on the streets, out of the houses. The already incredibly primitive and improvised electricity supply system, will collapse. The roads will be full of fallen power lines and collapsed houses. Ambulances, police and fire engines will not be getting through.
The public system is already on the pumps in Nepal. There is no real preparedness for such a situation. People are left to themselves and to the mercy of the outside world.
The morning comes to Kathmandu. Everyone is in shock. You hear screams from the ruins. People try to help others out. There are aftershocks. Nothing works. Telephone communication, water supply, infrastructure, electricity. Everything is down.
The small airport in Katmandu is perhaps still useful.
How many days does it take until humanitarian aid arrives?
How will it reach?
From India and China?
The roads from there, can be blocked by landslides. The bridges collapsed.
How many will die in the ruins? How many will die due to lack of treatment?
Are some hospitals still standing? At what level do they function?
Facts-
Kathmandu is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. With an estimated population of 2-3 million across the whole Kathmandu valley. The city has a population growth of 6.5% per year.
The city is number 1 on the independent GeoHazards Internations list of earthquake-prone cities where the disaster will be the greatest. They estimate that there will be 65,000 deaths per one million inhabitants.
http://www.forbes.com/2007/12/04/earthquakes-india-japan-biz-cx_db_1203earthquakes_slide_2.html?thisspeed=20000
The earthquake is predicted to be 8.4 on the Richter. The last strong earthquake hit Kathmandu in 1934 and according to experts, there is between 50 and 100 years between each strong earthquake.
The Big One - is a term used for the large, devastating earthquake.
Be informed and please join the following pages for more information:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/prepare4earthquake/
Show your support and like the page - https://www.facebook.com/thebigonenepal
FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO BE PREPARED FOR AN EARTHQUAKE, please visit the following website -
http://www.nset.org.np/nset/php/earthquake_preparedness.php
Last edited: 24-Apr-12 10:41 AM
Last edited: 25-Apr-12 12:24 PM