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February 4 1998 Afghanistan Earthquake

On February 4 1998, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit northern Afghanistan in the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region. It lasted approximately 8 minutes and 7 seconds and aftershocks continued for the next seven days.

As Afghanistan is situated on a major plate boundary, the location of the country is on the boundary where two tectonic plates meet. In the south of Afghanistan, the Indian Plate moves towards the north and the Eurasian Plate moves south-eastwards. The collision resulting from the movement of the plates has been going on for 50 million years. As a result of the movement, Afghanistan has been vulnerable to earthquakes.

According to the anti-Taleban Afghan Embassy about 15,000 people have been made homeless due to dozens of villages destroyed and 10,000 people injured. The landslides have also killed about 6,725 livestock. Medecins Sans Frontieres said that at least 4,000 had been killed.

There are no relief agencies in the area but the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies had already sent a team from Dushanbe. An airport in the west of Rostaq is still operating and would be able to receive emergency supplies to help aid relief.The European Union offered £1.3m of relief aid and also blankets, medical equipment, water and tents. Relief works were still being hampered by bad weather, blocked roads and the civil war. Reports indicated that the starving survivors were living in subzero temperatures. Several villagers were coming down the mountain tracks with their herds of goats .

Earthquake proof buildings could be built to minimize loss of life and property. Using wood to build houses and lessening the contact between the building and the ground while changing the nail distribution will build strronger houses which will withstand earthquakes. In addition to building stronger homes, an emergency food supply could also be kept. Planes could be sent to evacuate the villagers immediately. Trucks could also be used to transport livestock and crops harvested to a safer area to minimize losses.


Bibliography - Websites
1.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_4,_1998_Afghanistan_earthquake
2.http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/4/newsid_2534000/2534279.stm 3.http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eq_depot/1998/eq_980204/

-VESS(:
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