Researchers Find Bangladesh Is In Danger Of Experiencing Massive Earthquake
- 8 years ago
Recent research has confirmed what many scientists have long believed – Bangladesh is at risk of experiencing a massive earthquake.
Recent research has confirmed what many scientists have long believed – Bangladesh is at risk of experiencing a massive earthquake.
An international team of scientists identified a subduction zone, a place where one tectonic plate moves under another, running beneath the heavily populated nation, according to a Columbia University press release.
Using available historic records, researchers determined pressure has been building for at least 400 years, but are having difficulties predicting when devastation is likely to strike.
In addition to Bangladesh being on vulnerable coastal land, the nation’s buildings and infrastructure are considered at high risk.
Building codes were not established there until the early 1990s, and have since been only casually enforced.
Syed Humayun Akhter, one of the study’s co-authors, said, “All the natural gas fields, heavy industries and electric power plants are located close to potential earthquakes…In Dhaka, the catastrophic picture will be beyond our imagination, and could even lead to abandonment of the city.”
The research into the potential for such mass destruction is ongoing.
Recent research has confirmed what many scientists have long believed – Bangladesh is at risk of experiencing a massive earthquake.
An international team of scientists identified a subduction zone, a place where one tectonic plate moves under another, running beneath the heavily populated nation, according to a Columbia University press release.
Using available historic records, researchers determined pressure has been building for at least 400 years, but are having difficulties predicting when devastation is likely to strike.
In addition to Bangladesh being on vulnerable coastal land, the nation’s buildings and infrastructure are considered at high risk.
Building codes were not established there until the early 1990s, and have since been only casually enforced.
Syed Humayun Akhter, one of the study’s co-authors, said, “All the natural gas fields, heavy industries and electric power plants are located close to potential earthquakes…In Dhaka, the catastrophic picture will be beyond our imagination, and could even lead to abandonment of the city.”
The research into the potential for such mass destruction is ongoing.