What to do in the event of an earthquake?

Recently, the impact of a 5.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Yunnan province (China) has left aftershocks, causing many high-rise buildings in Hanoi to shake strongly. According to the Center for Earthquake Alert and Tsunami Warning (Institute of Geophysics), people should not panic and run away from the building but need to calmly handle the situation.
According to experts, an earthquake is a shaking on the earth’s surface as a result of the sudden release of energy in the earth’s crust and the generation of seismic waves.

There are 3 groups of causes leading to earthquakes, including: endogenous causes – due to tectonic movements of tectonic plates in the earth’s crust, leading to faulting activities or volcanic eruptions in subduction zones. (where two tectonic plates move in the direction and attract each other and subduction occurs); exogenous causes – due to meteorites hitting the earth or large landslides; human causes – due to survey or mining or construction, especially underground nuclear tests. Regarding the level of danger, the direct impact of earthquakes is shaking the ground, causing cracking, collapsing constructions, landslides and avalanches. Its severity is based on its magnitude, distance from the epicenter, and geological and geomorphological conditions at the affected site. Earthquakes also often cause fires when they destroy power lines and gas lines. Undersea earthquakes can cause landslides or deformation of the seabed, giving rise to tsunamis (large waves that overwhelm the oceans and then make landfall). Sometimes earthquakes even cause volcanoes to be active, even volcanoes that have long since died…. What to do if an earthquake occurs? According to scientists from the Center for Earthquake Reporting and Warning: “People in Hanoi’s high-rise buildings should not panic and run away from the building, but need to calmly handle the situation. For hanging objects in the house, especially glass to stay at a height, it is necessary to arrange them properly to avoid shaking and dropping them. Because earthquakes happen so suddenly, there is nothing we can do to prevent them. The only way to cope is to minimize the damage caused by the earthquake. When an earthquake occurs: To avoid injury, even loss of life due to earthquake, the most basic rule is to find a safe place to avoid hard objects falling on the head/person when there is shaking. For those who are indoors, it is possible to get under the table / under the bed, away from the glass doors, and avoid moving while there is still a tremor. If you are cooking, close the gas cylinder valve immediately. Use flashlights instead of matches, lighters, candles… because they are easy to cause fires. In the case of being on the street, it is necessary to stop at the curb, take refuge in empty lots, avoid crowded areas; Stay away from tall buildings, high walls, under bridges, power lines, power poles… If you are in a stadium or theater, you need to sit still until the tremor has subsided before moving out in an orderly manner. When near the coast, it is necessary to move away from the coast because earthquakes can cause tsunamis. After an earthquake occurs: Turn off the gas lock and unnecessary power sources to avoid fire. After an earthquake occurs, there is a good chance of further aftershocks, so continued careful attention is needed. If the house is damaged or the current location may be dangerous, it is necessary to move to a shelter. While moving, it is necessary to stay away from areas with glass doors and hanging electric lights. Absolutely do not use the elevator because it may be stuck due to a power failure. In addition, all emergency plans should be prepared such as: Develop a disaster response plan at home and at work; Identify the best places to hide in the house; Household items such as televisions, mirrors, computers, bookshelves, cabinets, etc. should be fixed and placed away from the bed to limit the risk of falling. Back up flashlights, batteries, radios, tapes, medicines… at convenient, easy-to-reach locations. Change them as often as they expire. Shaping indoor locations and emergency exits in apartments and high-rise buildings; follow notices and instructions of natural disaster prevention, control and rescue agencies. Save emergency phone numbers of emergency, fire protection and other authorities to call for help when needed, like 114 – fire, 115 – emergency…