
There has been a spike in earthquakes lately. That said, one's thoughts and prayers are with the survivors of devastating earthquakes in Nyingchi, Tibet (January 2025), Quito, Ecuador (March 19, 2024), Osaka, Japan (April 15, 2024), Kaohsiung, Taiwan (May 1, 2024), Taipei, Taiwan (May 15, 2024), Jakarta, Indonesia (June 10, 2024), Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (July 17, 2024), Shanghai, China (August 25, 2024), and Los Angeles, United States (September 5, 2024). These disasters remind us of a sobering reality: the urgent need for earthquake-resilient design in all buildings worldwide.
Ghana, my home country, is a case in point. The rapid urbanization and growth of cities demand innovative and resilient building designs that can withstand earthquakes and other natural disasters. This requires a paradigm shift in the construction industry, prioritizing earthquake-resilient design as the new normal.
According to a 2024 report by the Ghana Building Code Enforcement Office, adopting earthquake-resilient design principles can significantly reduce the risk of building collapse and loss of life. This is a crucial step towards creating safer and more resilient cities.
The recent earthquakes in Tibet, Ecuador, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, China, and the United States serve as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of unpreparedness. It's imperative that we learn from these disasters and take proactive measures to mitigate the impact of future earthquakes.
To mitigate this threat, we must demand better. Governments, construction companies, and citizens must prioritize earthquake-resilient design in all buildings. This necessitates adopting innovative design principles, investing in research and development, and enforcing stringent building codes.
The clock is ticking. Will we heed the warning signs and take decisive action, or will we succumb to the devastating consequences of our inaction? The choice is ours.
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