By Pir Ghulam Nabi Jillani
The devastating earthquakes reported in Venezuela have once again highlighted the immense human cost of natural disasters and the urgent need for countries to strengthen disaster preparedness. According to initial reports, the powerful earthquakes caused widespread destruction, with hundreds of people feared dead, many more injured and thousands reported missing as rescue workers struggled to reach those trapped beneath collapsed buildings. The damage to infrastructure, including the closure of the capital’s airport and the destruction of residential and commercial buildings, illustrates how quickly a powerful earthquake can overwhelm even major urban centres.
As rescue operations continue, the immediate priority remains saving lives, providing emergency medical care and restoring essential services. Experience from previous disasters shows that the first few days following a major earthquake are critical, as survivors trapped beneath debris depend upon the speed and coordination of emergency response teams. Every hour lost can significantly reduce the chances of survival, making rapid mobilisation of rescue personnel and humanitarian assistance essential. The reports have also renewed concern about the vulnerability of countries located along active seismic fault lines. Earthquakes cannot be predicted with certainty, nor can they be prevented. Their devastating consequences, however, are not entirely beyond human control.
The scale of destruction is often determined less by the strength of the earthquake itself than by the quality of infrastructure, the effectiveness of emergency planning and the level of public preparedness. These concerns resonate strongly in Pakistan. Recent tremors in parts of Balochistan, including Kohlu, Barkhan and Rakhni, have understandably caused anxiety among local communities. Although moderate earthquakes are relatively common in the region, each tremor serves as a reminder that Pakistan remains one of the countries exposed to considerable seismic risk because of its geographical location along active tectonic fault systems. The memory of the catastrophic October 2005 earthquake remains deeply embedded in the country’s collective consciousness.
Tens of thousands of lives were lost, entire communities were destroyed and countless families continue to live with the physical, emotional and economic consequences of that tragedy. The disaster demonstrated not only the destructive power of nature but also the importance of preparedness, resilient infrastructure and coordinated emergency response. Since then, Pakistan has made progress in disaster management through the establishment of dedicated institutions and improved emergency response mechanisms. Nevertheless, much more remains to be done. Rapid urbanisation, population growth and the expansion of housing in vulnerable areas have increased the importance of enforcing modern building standards capable of withstanding seismic activity.
Regulations are only effective if they are consistently implemented and monitored. The experience of countries such as Japan offers valuable lessons. Despite experiencing frequent and powerful earthquakes, Japan has substantially reduced casualties through strict building codes, earthquake-resistant engineering, regular emergency drills, sophisticated early warning systems and widespread public awareness campaigns. The objective is not to eliminate risk, which is impossible, but to minimise the loss of life and property when disasters occur. Pakistan would benefit from adopting and expanding similar approaches. Earthquake resilience should become a national priority rather than a reactive measure introduced only after tragedy strikes.
Investment in safer construction, particularly for schools, hospitals and other public buildings, should be accompanied by comprehensive public education programmes that teach citizens how to respond during and immediately after an earthquake. Community preparedness can often make the difference between life and death. Cooperation with countries that possess advanced expertise in earthquake mitigation should also be encouraged. Technical partnerships, engineering exchanges and specialised training can help strengthen Pakistan’s own disaster management capabilities while ensuring that international best practices are adapted to local conditions. At the same time, public awareness deserves far greater attention. Many casualties during earthquakes occur not only because of collapsing structures but also because people are unfamiliar with basic safety procedures.
Regular drills in schools, workplaces and public institutions, together with sustained media campaigns, can help foster a culture of preparedness that extends across society. Natural disasters recognise no borders, political divisions or economic status. Every major earthquake serves as a reminder of humanity’s shared vulnerability and of the importance of investing in resilience before disaster strikes. Governments cannot prevent earthquakes, but they can significantly reduce their consequences through sound planning, scientific expertise, effective institutions and public education. The tragedy unfolding in Venezuela and the tremors recently experienced in Pakistan should therefore be viewed not merely as isolated events but as timely warnings. Waiting for another catastrophic earthquake before strengthening preparedness would be an avoidable mistake. The true measure of effective governance lies not only in responding to disasters but in ensuring that when nature tests a nation, it is equipped to protect as many lives as possible.
(The writer is a senior retired government health official and served more than 30 yrs in the Public Sector on various executive, managerial and administrative positions with large administrative and clinical experience. He has keen interest in national, international affairs, and geopolitics. He can be reached at editorial@metro-morning.com)
