The past few weeks, there were earthquakes one after another. The United States Geological Survey reported that the actual number of earthquakes are not increasing but just that better technology is now available and able to record earthquakes undetected in the past. Temporary fluctuations within earthquake rates are completely normal and not an indication of a larger earthquake occurrence.
Recently, earthquakes seem to be occurring back to back across the world. On Dec. 6, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Canada, affecting both the United States and Canada. It was one of the strongest earthquakes Canada has experienced despite seeing no major injuries or damages. Netizens during the earthquake shared their concerns across social media. There were no tsunami warnings issued following the earthquake.
On Dec. 8, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit Japan, causing 34 injuries, damaged infrastructure and 20 aftershocks. The recent earthquakes are leading officials to advise citizens of a possible megaquake—one that could cause over 200,000 casualties—to be ready to evacuate in case of a greater earthquake. If an earthquake hits, up to 220,000 buildings could be destroyed, 42,000 people could be injured or killed due to hypothermia and over $198 billion dollars could be lost in economic damages.
The Nankai Trough is a highly active seismic oceanic trench off Japan’s southern coast with a tectonic setting that is prone to mega earthquakes occurring every century. The Nankai Trough is made up of two plates, the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, leading to built up energy from friction, which will release itself through lethal earthquakes and tsunamis.
On Dec. 9, a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck the west coast of Indonesia. No casualties or major damages were reported. Indonesia is also located above major tectonic plates that lead to regular earthquakes and tsunamis, thus making them well prepared for earthquakes.
Although many earthquakes have occurred these recent weeks, generally only earthquakes of a magnitude of 7.0 or higher are considered major and cause serious damage. The most vulnerable to earthquake damages are poorly built buildings who lack the technology to prevent and withhold earthquake impacts. A magnitude 3.5 or under earthquake is barely even felt, while an 8.0 or higher magnitude earthquake can cause severe destruction.
There was an earthquake on Feb. 6, 2023 here in New York. Students and staff still recall their confused memories regarding the event.
“I remember I was taking the earth science midterm, or some big test like that, and during the test the earthquake started,” sophomore Alex Hyman said. “We were all confused on what was happening but we had to keep taking our test, and we only realized afterwards what exactly had happened.”
“I yelled at two students during the earthquake because I thought they were jumping up and down at the back of the classroom” science teacher Christopher Bambino said.
“I was in English class, then the floor rumbled and someone screamed,” sophomore Elenor Li said.
How to protect yourself during an earthquake: drop, cover and hold on. Stay low to the ground next to an interior wall while protecting your head and neck. Beware of windows, glass, outside walls, fireplaces and tall furniture as they can be dangerous when broken, fallen or damaged during the earthquake shakes.
Especially in school buildings where there are large numbers of faculty children and parents involved that could be engulfed by fear, knowing and performing proper procedures in the case of these natural disasters is crucial to ensure that every life is protected. For students, it is vital to remember experiences from past drills, listen to instructions from trusted adults and be aware of your surroundings. Staying calm and mindful in these situations not only benefits oneself but also peers.
