Uganda at Glance of 5.7 Magnitude Earthquake: Lessons for Earthquake Risk Reduction
Open Access
- 1 January 2018
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Public Library of Science (PLoS) in PLoS Currents
Abstract
Although this earthquake was less devastating in terms of injuries and fatalities compared to two previous earthquakes in Uganda, based on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale it was still considered to be severe. Therefore, this paper identified some proactive lessons as far as earthquake risk reduction in Uganda is concerned, which among others include: encouraging earthquake-resistant buildings; the safety of essential infrastructure; earthquake early warning systems supported by free global technologies; and the safety of rescue workers along with prioritizing the psychosocial needs of rescue teams. With all this in mind, the September 2016 earthquake should serve as a timely reminder that there is a real need for the proactive ex-ante earthquake preparedness rather than risking an expensive post-ante approach to responding to any future devastating earthquakes in Uganda.Keywords
This publication has 11 references indexed in Scilit:
- Haitian and international responders' and decision-makers' perspectives regarding disability and the response to the 2010 Haiti earthquakeGlobal Health Action, 2015
- Do Earthquakes Shake Stock Markets?PLOS ONE, 2015
- Giant Seismites and Megablock Uplift in the East African Rift: Evidence for Late Pleistocene Large Magnitude EarthquakesPLOS ONE, 2015
- Psychological consequences and associated risk factors among adult survivors of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquakeBMC Psychiatry, 2014
- The Human Impact of Earthquakes: a Historical Review of Events 1980-2009 and Systematic Literature ReviewPLoS Currents, 2013
- Crisis management of tohoku; Japan earthquake and tsunami, 11 march 2011.2012
- Major Earthquakes of the Past Decade (2000-2010): A Comparative Review of Various Aspects of ManagementTrauma Monthly, 2012
- Injury epidemiology after the 2001 Gujarat earthquake in India: a retrospective analysis of injuries treated at a rural hospital in the Kutch district immediately after the disasterGlobal Health Action, 2011
- Rescuers at risk: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis of the worldwide current prevalence and correlates of PTSD in rescue workersSocial psychiatry. Sozialpsychiatrie. Psychiatrie sociale, 2011
- Impact of the 26 December 2003 Bam Earthquake on Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living of Older PeoplePrehospital and Disaster Medicine, 2011