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Terrorism Effects on Pakistan insurance Industry
1. Table of Contents
Abstract: .................................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction: ............................................................................................................................................. 3
What is an earthquake? ................................................................................................................................ 3
What causes earthquakes and where do they happen? .............................................................................. 3
Why does the earth shake when there is an earthquake? ........................................................................... 4
History: ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
Pakistan: A home to Earthquake! ................................................................................................................. 5
Historic Earthquakes in Pakistan:.................................................................................................................. 6
Modern day Earthquakes in Pakistan: .......................................................................................................... 7
1935 Balochistan Earthquake ............................................................................................................... 8
1945 “Would-be-Pakistan” tsunami ..................................................................................................... 8
1974 Hunza Earthquake ........................................................................................................................ 9
2005 Kashmir Earthquake ..................................................................................................................... 9
AFFECTED HOUSEHOLDS' STANDARDS OF LIVING BEFORE AND AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE (2005)(%)
............................................................................................................................................................ 11
2011 Pakistan Earthquake .................................................................................................................. 11
From the shores of Arabian sea to the great heights of K-2 : Earthquake threat persist! ................. 12
Earthquake & Insurance Industry: .......................................................................................................... 13
Definition: ................................................................................................................................................... 13
Why we need Insurance?............................................................................................................................ 13
Potential Environmental Risks .................................................................................................................... 13
Overview of the Insurance Sector............................................................................................................... 13
Life Insurance Business – Claims and Premiums ................................................................................ 14
Premiums and Claims of Non Life Insurance ...................................................................................... 15
Non Life Insurance Profitability........................................................................................................... 15
Life Insurance Profitability .................................................................................................................. 16
Demand for insurance cover:.............................................................................................................. 16
Some Unde rlying Risk Factors .................................................................................................................... 16
Material and Methods ............................................................................................................................ 17
Statistical Data: ........................................................................................................................................... 17
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 1
2. Average earthquake frequency for various depth ranges: ................................................................. 17
Average earthquake frequency for various magnitudes: ................................................................... 17
HYPOTHESIS ................................................................................................................................................ 18
RESEARCH RESULTS..................................................................................................................................... 18
Results ................................................................................................................................................. 18
FINDINGS................................................................................................................................................. 19
Conclusions: ............................................................................................................................................ 19
Recommendation:................................................................................................................................... 20
Precautions for Earthquake ........................................................................................................................ 20
Reference: ............................................................................................................................................... 21
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 2
3. Abstract:
The study focuses on “How earthquake affect Insurance Businees in Pakistan”. For the purpose
of collection of data we used internet and collected data through websites, research articles
and economic survey of Pakistan and some other sources and also through our personal
observation. The results have shown that Demand, Claims and Profit are three significant
factors which are affected by Earthquakes. The study was faced by certain limitations, which
include time constraints and resources constraints, which limit this research to only insurance
industry of Pakistan.The present study found support for an independent variable with
Earthquake. Significant negative correlations have been found for the Profit, and Positive for
Demand For Insurance and Insurance Claims. Therefore, organizations need to focus on how to
develop better plans to reduce the risk. If insurance companies fail to adopt proper measures
against such risks, it will cause adverse underwriting results which ultimately affect the profits
of insurance copanies and they will force to suffer loss.
Introduction:
What is an earthquake?
An earthquake is what happens when two blocks ofthe earth suddenly slip past one another.
The surfacewhere they slip is called the fault or fault plane. Thelocation below the
earth’ssurface where the earthquakestarts is called the hypocenter, and the locationdirectly
above it on the surface of the earth is called
the epicenter.
Sometimes an earthquake has foreshocks. These aresmaller earthquakes that happen in the
same place asthe larger earthquake that follows. Scientists can’t tellthat an earthquake is a
foreshock until the largerearthquake happens. The largest, main earthquake is called the
mainshock. Mainshocks always have aftershocks that follow. These are smaller earthquakes
that occur afterwards in the same place as the mainshock. Depending on the size of the
mainshock, aftershocks can continue for weeks, months, and even years after the mainshock!
What causes earthquakes and where do they happen?
The earth has four major layers: the inner core, outer core, mantle and crust (right). The crust
and the top of the mantle make up a thin skin on the surface of our planet. But this skin is not
all in one piece - it is made up of many pieces like a puzzle covering the surface of the earth
(next page - top). Not only that, but these puzzle pieces keep slowly moving around, sliding past
one another and bumping into each other. We call these puzzle pieces tectonic plates, and the
edges of the plates are called the plate boundaries.The plate boundaries are made up of many
faults, and most of the earthquakes around the world occur on these faults. Since the edges of
the plates are rough, they get stuck while the rest of the plate keeps moving. Finally, when the
plate has moved far enough, the edges unstick on one of the faults and there is an earthquake.
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 3
4. Why does the earth shake when there is an earthquake?
While the edges of faults are stuck together, and the rest of the block is moving, the energy
that would normally cause the blocks to slide past one another is being stored up! When the
force of the moving blocks finally overcomes the friction of the jagged edges of the fault and it
unsticks, all that stored up energy is released! The energy radiates(moves) outward from,the
fault in all directions in the form of seismic waves like ripples on a pond. The seismic waves
shake the earth as they move through it, and when the waves reach the earth’s surface, they
shake the ground and anything on it, like our houses and us!
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 4
5. History:
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has faced a lot in its 64 year life, both in terms of man-made as
well as natural disasters. Pakistan faces a severe threat from natural disaster but which disaster
is the worst for Pakistan? Well, its earthquake. History has shown us that Pakistan is indeed
situated near highly active fault line that could put risk to more than 170 million people living in
the country. What are the precautions needed to avoid earthquake?
Pakistan: A home to Earthquake!
Earthquake activity in Pakistan is mainly concentrated in the north and western sections of the
country, along the boundary of the Indian plate and the Iranian and Afghan micro-plates. The
Chaman Fault runs along Pakistan’s western frontier with Afghanistan from Kalat, in the
northern Makran range, past Quetta and then on to Kabul, Afghanistan. A fault also runs along
the Makran coast and is believed to be of the same nature as the West Coast fault along the
coast of Maharashtra, India. An active subduction zone exists off the Makran coast.
This zone forms the boundary between the Arabian and the Iranian micro-plate, where the
former subducts or dives beneath the latter. Thrust zones run along the Kirthar, Sulaiman and
Salt ranges. There are four faults in and around Karachi and other parts of deltaic Indus, and
Makran coast. The first is the Allah Bund fault that passes through Shahbundar, Jah, Pakistan
Steel Mills, and runs through eastern parts of the city and ends near Cape Monz. This fault, in
fact, has caused extensive damage in the past many centuries in the deltaic areas. The
destruction of Bhanbhor in the 13th century and damage to Shahbundar in 1896 were caused
by this fault. The other one emanates from the Rann of Kutchh. The third one is the Pubb fault
which ends into Arabian sea near Makran coast and the last one is located in the lower Dadu
district near Surajani and falls in the vicinity of Karachi. Tsunamis or tidal waves have also
affected the coast of Pakistan. The worst case was in 1945 when an earthquake of magnitude 8
struck the Makran coast, waves as high as 12 meters were reported.
Earthquake prone areas in Pakistan
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 5
6. Historic Earthquakes in Pakistan:
From the year 893 A.D till 1929, a total of 11 earthquakes have rocked the modern-day
Pakistan. Following is a chart that shows the list of historic earthquakes in Pakistan since 893;
Earthquakes in Pakistan
Earthquakes are the deadliest disaster in Pakistan
Number of Historic Earthquakes
Year Magnitude Deaths Areas affected
Shah Bandar (coastal Sindh)
893 8 150,000
Shah Bandar (coastal Sindh)
May 2, 1668 7.6 50,000
Allahbund (Sindh-Gujarat
June 16, 1819 7.5 3,200
border)
Lahore, Punjab
September 24, 1827 7.8 1,000
Kahan, Balochistan
January 24, 1857 8 -
Peshawar, Khyber
January 22, 1865 6 -
Jhalawan, Balochistan
1883 - -
Jhalawan, Balochistan
1889 8 -
Qilla Abduallah,
December 20, 1892 6.8 -
Balochistan
Sibbi, Balochistan
October 21, 1909 7 100
Balochistan
February 1, 1929 7.1 -
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 6
7. Modern day Earthquakes in Pakistan:
From the year 1931 till 2011, Pakistan has seen many major earthquake including a tsunami in
1945, two years before independence. Following is a chart that shows the list of historic
earthquakes in Pakistan since 1931 till 2011;
Earthquakes in Pakistan
Earthquakes are the deadliest disaster in Pakistan
Number of Modern Earthquakes
Year Magnitude Deaths Areas affected
Sharigh valley,
August 24, 1931 7 -
Balochistan
Mach, Balochistan
August 27, 1931 7.4 -
province
May 31, 1935 7.7 60,000 Districts of Balochistan
Makran-Sindh coastal
November 27, 1945 7.9 or 8 (tsunami) 4,000
areas
Districts of the Khyber province
December 28, 1974 6.2 5,300
Parts of Khyber and Azad Kashmir
October 8, 2005 7.8 80,000
Quetta, Balochistan
October 29, 2008 6.4 216
January 18, 2011 7.2 2 Balochistan
Coastal area of Sindh is in active seismic zone. There is geological fault from Ahmedabad and
Bhuj and Ormara along Makran coast and another geological fault from Ormara to Gulistan
about 80 kms west of Quetta to Jalalabad and then turning eastwards under Himalayan foot
hills through Kohistan towards Haryana in India and beyond, it is called Karakoram
fault. Another one is located Abbottabad, Mansehra, Kohistan and Swat district. The 2005
earthquake was more intensive than 1974 earthquake, which had created havoc in Pattan,
Duba, Palas and other villages.
The first causes earthquakes along the northern Gujarat, Kutch, Rann of Kutch and affects Sindh
coast and Karachi. In 1945 earthquake with epicentre in Makran between Pasni and Gawadar,
Karachi also got shocks and some islands along Baluchistan coast disappeared and new ones
emerged. The 2003 earthquake destroyed many houses in Ahmedabad, destroyed almost the
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 7
8. whole town of Bhuj and affected coastal area of Sindh including damage to some buildings in
Nagar Parker, Islamkot, Mithi, Diplo and Badin and bridges on roads south of Badin.
1935 Balochistan Earthquake
Camps can be seen during the post-1935 earthquake
At 3:02 am PST at Quetta, a powerful earthquake rocked the city and surrounding areas. The
earthquake had a magnitude of 7.7 and anywhere between 30,000 and 60,000 people died
from the impact. This ranks as one of the deadliest earthquakes that hit South Asia. The natural
disaster ranks as the 23rd most deadly earthquake worldwide to date. In the aftermath of
the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, the experts cited the earthquake as being amongst the four
deadliest earthquakes the South Asian region has seen; the others being the Kashmir
earthquake in 2005, Pasni earthquake in 1945 and Kangra earthquake in 1905.
This earthquake is the worst natural disaster in Pre-Pakistan era.
1945 “Would-be-Pakistan” tsunami
1945 tsunami left a widespread destruction
On 28 November 1945 at 1:56 am (local time), a massive earthquake, off Pakistan’s
Makran Coast generated a destructive tsunami in the Northern Arabian Sea and the Indian
Ocean. Its epicenter was at 24.5 N 63.0 E., in the northern Arabian Sea, about 100 km south of
Karachi and about 87 km SSW of Churi (Balochistan), Pakistan. The earthquake was of 8.1
magnitude, major quake. A total of 4,000 people were killed.
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 8
9. 1974 Hunza Earthquake
Hunza earthquake in 1974
This Earthquake was a magnitude of 6.2 and hit Hunza, Hazara and Swat districts of northern
Pakistan on December 28, 1974. The quake had a shallow focal depth and was followed by
numerous aftershocks. An official estimate of the number killed was 5,300 with approximately
17,000 injured. A total of 97,000 were reported affected by the tremor. Most of the destruction
was centred around the village of Pattan, located about 100 miles north of the capital city of
Islamabad. The village was almost completely destroyed. Landslides and rock falls contributed
to the damage.
2005 Kashmir Earthquake
View of Islamabad after the 2005 earthquake
At 8:50 a.m. on October 8, 2005, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck northern Pakistan causing
serious damage in the North West Frontier (NWFP) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)
provinces. Over 4000 villages were affected, 73,000 people killed, 79,000 injured and 3.3 million
people rendered homeless. Over 470,000 houses were completely destroyed, nearly 65% of the
hospitals in the area were destroyed or badly damaged and an estimated 10,000 school
buildings were affected. As in many emergencies, the most vulnerable segment of the
population was among the hardest hit: the elderly, women whose husbands were killed or
disabled, and an estimated 1.6-2.2 million children. Compounding the destruction of the initial
earthquake were a series of strong aftershocks that continued for weeks. In addition to the
estimated $5 billion in property damage, there was significant loss of livelihoods through
destruction of arable land, crops and livestock, businesses, and jobs. Despite the resilience of
the population, the impact of the disaster was overwhelming and devastating.
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 9
10. The timing and geography of the earthquake – which occured at the onset of the harsh winter
and in remote, mountainous terrain – caused serious concern about the vulnerability of the
affected populations and their ability to survive. The local, regional and international aid
communities mobilized immediately, and supplies began to pour into the region. As in previous
disasters of this scale, the relief effort was fragmented, with many different players providing a
myriad of services. The Government of Pakistan established the Federal Relief Commission
(FRC) and the Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA) to serve as a
liaison between the government, international and national organizations involved in relief and
rehabilitation. Relief and recovery committees were formulated as focal points at the district
level.
One year later, it is still not clear whether the Pakistan relief effort was considered a success,
whether there was adequate relief to meet the needs of the affected populations, and what
some of the remaining issues continue to be. In order to understand these dynamics, Fritz
Institute conducted a survey of affected households to assess their perceptions of the damage,
loss, and humanitarian assistance provided. The research builds on similar surveys Fritz Institute
conducted after the South Asia Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.1 It is hoped that this ongoing
research of beneficiary perceptions provides insight to donors, policy makers, governments and
humanitarian agencies about the factors that influence the effectiveness and impact of
humanitarian assistance.
Aftermath of Kashmir Earthquake: Common scene during Quakes!
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 10
11. AFFECTED HOUSEHOLDS' STANDARDS OF LIVING BEFORE AND AFTER THE
EARTHQUAKE (2005)(%)
2011 Pakistan Earthquake
An earthquake of magnitude of 7.2 rocked south-western Pakistan. The United States
Geological Survey reported the earthquake took place on January 19 at 01:23 am PST. The
depth of the earthquake was reported to be 84 kilometres. US seismologist, Don Blakeman,
said the earthquake depth was revised to be deeper than originally thought – potentially
limiting the effects.
Overall the earthquake was felt in India, Iran, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Oman, Qatar and United
Arab Emirites. 2 women died due to this earthquake in Pakistan due to heart attack.
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 11
12. From the shores of Arabian sea to the great heights of K-2 : Earthquake threat
persist!
Threat from Tsunami will always hanut Karachi
While Karachi lies close to a major fault line, it is situated on or close to four minor faults. The
first is called the Allah Bund fault and it passes through the coastal town of Shah Bundar, the
area around Pakistan Steel Mills and runs through eastern parts of the city ending near Cape
Monz. Another fault lies in the Rann of Kutch near Sindh’s southeastern border with India. The
third is called the Pubb fault which lies near the Mekran coast west of the city while a fourth is
located in Dadu district on the northern boundary of Karachi. Some scientists say that the
geographical location of Karachi is such that a natural curve is formed near the sea-shore, as a
result, the possibility for a tsunami generated in Indian Ocean to hit the Karachi site is quite
remote. . Karachi is sometimes regarded as safe from earthquake while sometimes it is the
opposite.
Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan sits on 5 major fault lines running through the city, all of
which are capable of producing large earthquakes.
The officials said that when the 1960′s government had planned to declare Islamabad the
federal capital, its seismic zoning was conducted. Geologists had warned the then government
that Islamabad was prone to high intensity earthquakes because it was situated in an active
earthquake zone. The officials said that it was not advisable to construct high-rise buildings in
Islamabad. They said that no building structure higher than two stories should be allowed in the
federal capital, as the earth crust in Islamabad could not sustain the weight of high-rise
buildings. So Islamabad should be on alert for earthquakes.
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 12
13. Earthquake & Insurance Industry:
Definition:
Covers a building and its contents, but includes a large percentage deductible on each. A
special policy or endorsement exists because earthquakes are not covered by standard
homeowners or most business policies.
Why we need Insurance?
Insurance is a form of risk management, used to hedge against the risk of a contingent loss.
It involves the transfer of the risk of potential loss from one entity to another, in exchange
for a risk premium. Given this role, the Insurance sector fosters financial stability by
enabling economic agents to undertake various transactions with the facility of transfer and
dispersion of risks. As a crucial component of the financial system, life insurance plans are
an important source of savings and long-term institutional investments essential for the
development and growth of bond markets. The role of life insurance as a financial
intermediary is particularly important in countries like Pakistan with low levels of financial
penetration.
Potential Environmental Risks
There is a need to assess the damages caused by the earthquake on the environment, such
as the impact on agriculture and pasture land; trees and forests; wetlands, springs and
irrigation systems; water quality; ecosystems and biodiversity; protected areas, cultural
heritage etc.But major on Insurance sector. These damages need to be valuated in
economic terms. Additional environmental damages will occur in the aftermath of the
earthquake. Some of them may only be visible after a year or later.
Overview of the Insurance Sector
The insurance industry has enjoyed robust growth in the last few years, driven by favorable
economic conditions, expansion of the financial sector as a whole, privatization of large
state owned entities and foreign investments. But factors such as the earthquake in 2005
and emergence of macroeconomic instability since late 2007, turmoil in global financial
markets and dislocation of the domestic equity market along with the deteriorating security
situation, posed substantial challenges to the performance of the insurance sector in CY08.
In response, the insurance industry showed its resilience in that it was able to absorb a
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 13
14. sudden and unexpected shock of meeting insurance claims of more than Rs. 6.0 billion
arising from the riots caused by the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto
on 27th December, CY07. At the close of CY08, the asset base of the insurance sector stood
at Rs. 341.4 billion, up 5.0 percent in comparison with CY07. The share of insurance assets
in the total assets of the financial sector is 4.5 percent and the sector assets constitute 3.3
percent of GDP.
Life Insurance Business – Claims and Premiums
The life insurance industry witnessed a growth of 20 percent in gross premiums in CY09 (Figure
6.5), as against 26 percent in CY08. This growth in premiums can be attributed to the increased
outreach of life insurance business in recent years, in response to the growing demand for life
insurance products on account of relatively improved awareness and their dual role as a long-
term savings instrument. Furthermore, with the launch of two new life insurance companies
and Bancassurance distribution channel, such an increase in premiums is indicative of
substantial untapped market potential.
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 14
15. Premiums and Claims of Non Life Insurance
Non Life Insurance Profitability
The underwriting practices of the non-life business witnessed no significant change in CY09.
However, investment income that contributed to a loss of Rs. 4.7 billion in CY08 on account of
sluggish equity market performance, yielded profits of Rs. 4.8 billion in CY09 as shown in Figure
6.9. Similarly, the overall profitability of the insurance sector recovered from a loss of Rs. 4.1
billion in CY08 to Rs. 5.9 billion in CY09. The rationale for the significant increase in profits is
mainly due to rising investment income coupled with low impairment of investments in capital
market instruments for CY09.
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 15
16. Life Insurance Profitability
Demand for insurance cover:
There is increase in demand for insurance cover both Life and Non_Life .Demand for Life
insurance is increasing due to natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods.Also ther is
increase in demand of property insurance.Insurers also take into account different aspects like
claim ratios,inflation rate and demand for a particular cover.They are likely to charge more
premium due to such reasons.
Some Unde rlying Risk Factors
There are a number of underlying risk factors that increase vulnerability and contribute to the
severity of disasters in
Pakistan. These include:
• Poor construction practices and limited enforcement of existing building codes
• Weak early warning systems
• Lack of awareness and education on disasters and response
• Limited capacity and coordination between various government disaster response agencies
• Disaster susceptibility of large number of impoverished communities
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 16
17. Material and Methods
The duration of seismic data, used in this study, is 1961 to 2011. The seismic data is provided by
Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The study has been made by calculating and
comparing the decadal and eight year averages of earthquake frequency. To study the
magnitude wise variations, Mb parameter (body wave magnitude) has been selected. The
decadal variations for various magnitude ranges of 3-3.9, 4-4.9 and 5-5.9 have been studied. No
earthquakes for the magnitudes of <3 and 5.9< have been reported by PMD in the shelf area of
Pakistan during period 1961 to 2008. Depth wise study has been made by dividing it into two
depth ranges of 0-40km and 41-80km. The earthquake frequency for the depth
Statistical Data:
Average earthquake frequency for various depth ranges:
Average earthquake frequency for various magnitudes:
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 17
18. HYPOTHESIS
Earthquake VS Demand for insurance Cover
● Earthquke does not affect demand for Insurance Cover.
● Earthquke does affect demand for Insurance Cover.
Earthquake VS Insurance Claims
● Earthquke does not affect Insurance Claims.
● Earthquke does affect Insurance Claims.
Earthquake VS Profit of Insurance Companies
● Earthquke does not affect Insurance Companies profit.
● Earthquke does affect Insurance Companies profit
RESEARCH RESULTS
Earthquake VS Demand for insurance Cover
● Earthquke does not affect demand for Insurance Cover. REJECTED
● Earthquke does affect demand for Insurance Cover. ACEPETED
Earthquake VS Insurance Claims
● Earthquke does not affect Insurance Claims. REJECTED
● Earthquke does affect Insurance Claims. ACEPETED
Earthquake VS Profit of Insurance Companies
● Earthquke does not affect Insurance Companies profit. REJECTED
● Earthquke does affect Insurance Companies profit ACEPETED
Results
The results show that there is a negative correlation of Earthquake with Profit of Insurance
Company & positive correlation with Demand for Insurance Cover and Claims
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 18
19. FINDINGS
An analysis of the research conducted on the “Earthquake and its impact on insurance sector”.
How earthquake affect the Insurance Business in Pakistan. Variables included in our hypothesis
were Demand for Cover. Profit Of Insurance and Insurance Claims. We find that there is direct
relationship between Earthquake and Demand and Claim and indirect relationship between
earthquake and Profit of insurance companies.
Conclusions:
Pakistan’s continental shelf shows an increasing trend in earthquake frequency which
can be correlated to the directly affected on insurance Industry in Pakistan rising the
earthquake frequency in same duration caused by extensive change of global warming.
The increase in earthquake frequency probably lies in the magnitude 3-3.9 and in depth
range from 0 to 40 km after analysing the major earthquack desaster 2005.
Insurance industry facing many problems due to increasing earthquacke frequency.
More claims are made by the customers,
Profit is decreasing and reserves are insuffient to pay claims.
Companies are trying to minimize the risk by implementing different stratagies such as
arrangement with reinsurance and ristricting dangerious areas like Balakot.
However a positive trend is also seen peoples are now more desire to purchace
insurance policies to prevent their losses
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 19
20. Recommendation:
Precautions for Earthquake
Earthquake is an unexpected event which cannot be predicted in advance. Hence, the only way
to save yourself, is with adequate preventive measures. Here is an earthquake safety checklist
that will help you in your preparation work in this regard:
The first step of earthquake safety precautions is to be sure that the building in which
you are living, meets the earthquake construction requirements.
Arrange all the cupboards of your house in such an order that the heavy items are
stored in the lower racks. Thus you can ensure that those heavy items will not be
thrown off like projectiles at the time of an earthquake.
Secure the cupboard doors with latches, so that they do not open during an earthquake
and prevent things kept inside them from falling off.
Objects in your house like refrigerator, bookcases, air conditioners should be fastened
to the wall properly, so that they can withstand maximum tremors.
Keep hanging objects like lamps, mirrors, picture frames, hanging plants away from
beds. Also make sure they are anchored properly, to prevent their fall.
Fire may erupt inside the house after an earthquake. Hence, the fire extinguishers on
each floor of the building should be strategically located, so that one can easily access
them as and when they are required.
Always keep an earthquake survival kit ready with you.
At least one member of the family should have good knowledge of first aid measures
which will help if someone gets a bad injury. This is important because the medical
emergency services often gets overloaded after this kind of natural disaster. Even many
of the medical equipment may not be in working condition after the incident.
One of the most vital aspect is earthquake safety for kids. For this, you have to train
them about the do’s and don’ts during an earthquake. Talk to them about how it feels
when earthquake happens so that they can recognize it early. Teach them how they can
seek protection by going under a desk or a table. Lets take a look at the earthquake
activity in Pakistan!
Earthquake in Pakistan & its Impacts on Insurance Page 20
