In
a chilling sequel to the many natural disasters hitting our globe recently,
comes an earthquake of magnitude 7.6 wreaking havoc in Pakistan and also hitting
cities in India and Afghanistan. The earthquake occurred at 03:50:38 (UTC) on
Saturday, October 8, 2005.
One
thousand people are said to be dead and many more may be trapped under the
rubble of collapsed buildings.
Pakistan
has confirmed the devastation of several villages. The epicenter of this violent
earthquake is 95 km north-northeast of Islamabad, according to the U.S.
Geological Survey, World Data Center for Seismology in Denver.
Earthquakes
in the various regions of the world will continue, unfortunately, to occur. Dr.
Zaghlool El-Naggar explains this geological fact in his article Mountains
as Stabilizers for the Earth.
Earthquakes
are commonly surrounded by public health myths and misconceptions.Dr. David W. Tschanz answers such questions as: Can the tens of thousands
of deaths that result from some natural disasters result in a public health
catastrophe? Are epidemics common after
earthquakes? What kind of aid do earthquake victims actually need in the
aftermath of a disaster similar to the Bam earthquake?Earthquakes
and Public Health: Myths & Realties
How do some people survive for days on
end in the rubble of a fallen building?What
can I do in the event of an earthquake to increase my chances of survival?Read Aisha El-Awady's article on Surviving
an Earthquake,
and David Tschanz's article on Earthquake
Safety – How to Prepare for One.
