Which countries are most affected by severe seismic activity? New earthquake metric provides fresh perspective

While headlines often dwell on the destructive power of earthquakes, their true human cost can be elusive. A recent study offers a fresh perspective through a new metric: the earthquake fatality load, or EQFL.

This metric compares earthquake fatalities to a country's population, revealing how some nations bear a disproportionate burden of earthquake deaths. Surprisingly, smaller countries like Ecuador, Lebanon, and Haiti topped the EQFL list, despite experiencing fewer earthquakes than larger, more earthquake-prone nations like Japan or China.

The researchers suggest this disparity might be due to how even minor earthquakes can significantly impact smaller, unprepared populations. Additionally, such losses represent a larger portion of their population, making them more devastating for smaller nations.

Apart from these, countries on major tectonic plate boundaries also rank high due to the occurrence of intense earthquakes in these regions. This explains Afghanistan's high EQFL ranking, as it lies in a zone where the Indian and Eurasian plates meet.

Encouragingly, the study also found a global decline in EQFL over time, suggesting that advancements in building codes, disaster preparedness, and rescue efforts are mitigating the human cost of earthquakes. The global trend of urbanisation, with its typically more earthquake-resistant construction and faster emergency response in cities, could further contribute to this decline. However, challenges remain in countries like Italy, where older, vulnerable buildings are still in use.

The EQFL serves as a valuable tool for understanding and addressing the human cost of earthquakes. By identifying the most vulnerable countries, it can guide targeted disaster risk reduction efforts and resource allocation.