Tsunami and earthquake in Japan: A lesson for all

We are shocked, distressed and deeply saddened at the terrible devastation wrought by nature in Japan. The severe earthquake, on a magnitude of 8.9 on the Richter scale, was swiftly followed by a tsunami that left thousands of lives and property destroyed. It only bore testimony to the fragility of human existence. Our heart goes out in sympathy to the Japanese people and government for the grievous loss of lives and property they have suffered. We stand by them at their hours of grief and fervently hope that they will meet the calamitous situation with fortitude and resilience characteristic of them. Japan being one of the largest development partners of Bangladesh has a special place in the hearts of Bangladeshis. The environmental changes that have come over our world have been a reminder for all of us that unless we take measures to roll back the gathering tide of damaging climate change, we will all be in deep trouble. Nations across the globe have heeded the message. They have scrambled to put matters in perspective and have taken measures to correct conditions, though it is not yet clear whether the corrective steps will restore our world to where it used to be. And now there is this added fear of just how sweeping nature can be when it gets chaotic through a shift in the tectonic plates. Such disasters are not predictable and also beyond the ability of human beings to keep at bay. In light of the experience in Japan, the one lesson we learn is that populations in the coastal areas can be asked to shift inland when intimation of a tsunami is there. There is forever a sense of fatalism about matters beyond our control, and yet we must do what we can to save lives. Japan is known as an earthquake-prone country. People there live in specially structured buildings of single storey type for personal safety and to minimise loss of properties from earthquakes. Frequent tremors are felt on and off across the four main islands of Japan. The Japanese people are accustomed to living with such tremors. But the horrific earthquake that struck Japan on March 11 was unprecedented. The measurement of the intensity of earthquakes started in Japan 140 years ago. This earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale surpassed all records. Accounts of the destructiveness from the earthquake are only starting to be known now. The entire Japanese nation has been traumatised. Preliminary estimates say several thousand people have died although the number of the deaths could rise much higher. The material destructions have been heavy with parts of entire cities getting washed away by the post-earthquake tsunami. Nuclear reactors and oil refineries have been severely damaged, and have caught fire. A nuclear reactor is considered to be in a dangerous state as tremor destroyed its cooling system. The earthquake and its after-effects have caused huge loss of assets. Japan, until recently, has been the second biggest economic power after the United States. It has been the biggest development partner of Bangladesh. Our President and the Prime Minister have joined world leaders in expressing their own sorrows and of the Bangladesh people for the great loss of life and properties in Japan. Bangladesh can send medical teams and help the people of Japan from her experience and expertise in disaster management. It is expected that Japan's neighbours, Russia and China, will come forward with help-logically-for post-earthquake recovery. Millions across the world looked in horrified disbelief as the pictures of tsunami devastation of cataclysmic proportion wrought on Japan's Pacific coast flashed on TV screens. The tsunami following one of the largest offshore earthquakes, measuring a mammoth 8.9 on the Richter scale struck Japan's north-eastern coast and shook buildings in the capital Tokyo. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS) data, the tremor was Japan's strongest ever and the seventh strongest in the world till date. The scene seemed almost surreal as entire buildings, home, vehicles, were thrown around like ragged dolls. The phenomenal speed with which the tsunami waves crashed into the coastline and raced across vast expanses of farmland uprooting everything in its path, inundating not only farmlands but highways still laden with vehicles, was perhaps the most shocking sight one is to witness in a lifetime. It knocked off electricity grids that left millions in the dark and forced a shutdown of most communications networks, including telephone and internet. Thousands were left stranded as the authorities, unsure of what could happen next, stopped commuter trains for nearly six hours. The damage, while still being assessed, sparked off massive explosions at nuclear facilities at Fukushima, about 250 km (160 miles) north-east of Tokyo, causing widespread panic. Officials fear that one of the reactors may suffer a meltdown, and hence, people have been evacuated to safe distances. To have an understanding of the magnitude of the tremor that occurred off the Coast of Honshu island, one may state that the earthquake was nearly 8000 times stronger than the one that struck New Zealand last month. While experts generally believe that making a country even one as prosperous as Japan or one as economically and population burdened as Bangladesh, cannot be made totally earthquake or tsunami proof, a number of steps may be taken to minimize damage and loss of life. Having an effective early warning system is perhaps the best way to get people to move to higher ground. The fact that loss of life was much contained in Japan is testament to the fact that having highly-developed public information campaign, which ensured that most of its citizens know what to do and where to go in the event of such an emergency. Japan is devastated. Although Japan is no stranger to seismic calamity and in that respect it has had more than its fair share, the present disaster has traumatised that country as well as the whole world. In historical perspective, the country has witnessed a fifth of the mighty quakes that hit the earth. But the recent quake and tsunami were among the severest one in living memory. We trust the whole world will commiserate with Japan in their hours of grief, ourselves included. Even traditional rival China has promised to help. This is as it should be. Adversary must bring peoples together, across old lines of differences and rivalries. Japan is our major development partner and it is natural that Japan's present peril shall strike a sympathetic chord in 150 million breasts of the people of this country. Although this country is in no position to extend any material help, that does not mean we cannot give a token support or participate in any global effort to provide succour to our fellow Asians. We have over and over again been chastened by the crucible of Nature's inclemency. Our leaders and representatives are expected to stand by Japan at this hours of their trial and communicate the message that we are with them. We trust that Japan with its economic might and skill and the sympathy and goodwill of friendly countries shall succeed in defeating the elements and minimising the losses. Let Japan emerge triumphant. The writer is an economic analyst, columnist & author of many books and can be reached at e-mail: anumahmud@yahoo.com