Another earthquake may jolt Haiti--geologists

Nearly nine months after the 7.0-magnitude quake which struck 10 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, killing approximately 230000 people, destroying 60 percent of government infrastructure, leaving more than 180000 homes uninhabitable and 1.5 million Haitians homeless, geologists have warned that another earthquake might rock the already devastated country.

For nearly 10 months, researchers have been studying the 'Enriquillo–Plantain Garden fault,' believed to be earthquake's epicentre.

Though the researchers still don't know what exactly happened in the earth's crust on Jan. 12, or which faults caused the catastrophe, and led to damages totaling to about 14 billion, they have confirmed the possibility of more plate movement.

Another earthquake likely
In a study published in the November issue of journal 'Nature Geoscience,' researchers have alerted of another disastrous calamity, saying, not all accumulated crustal stress that led to quake in January were released, thus indicating that another earthquake is likely.

“Geophysical analyses of the 2010 Haiti earthquake suggest that there is still potential for seismic activity in the region,” reads the editorial titled 'Shaken island' published in the journal.

Also, as there is no proof of surface rupture along the 'Enriquillo–Plantain Garden fault,' which has triggered many earthquakes in the region around Port-au-Prince.

“In any case, that the surface did not rupture this time implies some scope for shaking in the not-too-distant future,” stated the study.

Need for better provisions
Presently, the geologists are trying to determine the nature of the future earthquakes in the region.

Meanwhile, they have stressed the need for better provisions to successfully tackle such natural calamities in future.

“In any case, that the surface did not rupture this time implies some scope for shaking in the not-too-distant future.”--study

Considering that the seismic activity in the region is not new, it is imperative to build houses that are resistant to earthquakes.

In fact, the researchers emphasized on the the need to implement efficient building standards in the Caribbean country.

For instance, Michael K. Lindell, Director in the Hazard Reduction & Recovery Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, asserted that building codes should be “strictly enforced.”

Also, the geologists reinforced the need for disaster-management infrastructure, stating, “Rebuilding efforts should be swift, carried out according to the latest engineering know-how and supplemented by insurance to cover the unavoidable economic damage.”