QUAKES UNEARTH SHAKY DISASTER RESPONSE

Nov 3 , 2024.

Nestled within the seismically active East African Rift System, the Afar Regional State is no stranger to earthquakes. The latest was a few minutes past midnight on Saturday, November 3, 2024. Twenty nine kilometres northwest of the Awash town, 156Km from the capital, the quake (4.7 on a richer scale) cracked the earth for close to 10Km, causing indoor objects to shake. It was not to be the first over the past two months: no less than 12 earthquakes have been registered since mid-September, with an average of 4.5 on a richer scale. Experts warn that a major seismic event could easily overwhelm local healthcare infrastructure. Seismologists also caution that these tremors might be precursors to more severe earthquakes. Particularly worrying should be that the country relies on one seismograph for data. Plans to establish a centre for geohazard monitoring near Addis Abeba have yet to materialise, leaving the authorities with limited capability to monitor and respond to seismic activities.

The tremors from recent activities were felt all the way to Addis Abeba, sparking concerns over the country's preparedness for disaster relief operations and the alarming disregard for building codes in this earthquake-prone area. Despite the Ethiopian Construction Authority (ERA) rolling out stricter building regulations in 2022, enforcement remains inconsistent. In urban centres like Addis Abeba, construction quality varies widely, leaving many structures vulnerable in the event of a larger quake. The lack of adherence to building codes heightened fears that the country is ill-prepared for the aftermath of seismic activities.

In the Segento District of Afar, residents have been captivated — and unsettled — by a peculiar natural phenomenon triggered by the earthquakes. A muddy spring that bubbles and roars, emitting eerie sounds. Local officials likened it to "the creator's rage," describing the mesmerising yet disconcerting spectacle. The spring's expansion and undrinkable water have rendered nearby villages uninhabitable, prompting the evacuation of 830 residents from four villages. The region's pressing infrastructure needs only add to the demand for robust emergency responses.

The Afar Regional State Disaster & Risk Management Commission has begun distributing food aid to those affected. However, the healthcare system is woefully lacking for a disaster. With only eight functioning hospitals, the regional state's healthcare network is ill-equipped to manage earthquake fallout.

PUBLISHED ON Nov 03,2024 [ VOL 25 , NO 1279]