❝A magnitude 7 earthquake would make rescue operations nearly impossible in Old Dhaka.❞
❝A magnitude 9 earthquake could turn Dhaka into a city of corpses.❞
To many, these statements may sound exaggerated, even laughable.
After all, we only felt a magnitude 5.5 tremor the other day. So what’s the big deal if the magnitude rises by just 1.5 or 3.5? Maybe the ground will shake a little more, right?
No, your concern or basic concept is incorrect.
According to an expert who warns that a magnitude 9 quake could turn Dhaka into ruins, he isn’t joking.
Because the Richter scale is logarithmic, not linear.
The difference between magnitudes isn’t a little; it’s enormous.
The scale was developed by Charles Richter in 1930, based on statistical probability. Earthquakes follow patterns of energy release, and the Richter scale simply converts that into numbers we can read.
The basic relationship is:
M = log₁₀(A/A₀) So,
A = A₀ × 10á´¹
But shaking alone isn’t the full story.
Energy release follows a different formula:
E ∝ A³⁄²
So for each 1 magnitude increase:
➡ Energy increases ~32 times.
▲ Energy difference
5.5 → 7.0 → about 178 times more energy
5.5 → 9.0 → about 178,000 times more energy
Now think carefully.
An earthquake with 178,000 times more energy than what we felt —
What would it do to Dhaka?
A city packed with buildings. Almost no open fields. Narrow roads. Old structures. Millions of people.
Where will people run? How will rescue teams even enter the collapsed areas?
If a magnitude 9 quake ever strikes, Dhaka becoming a “no-go zone” like Chernobyl wouldn’t be surprising; rescue operations would be nearly impossible.
May Allah (SWT) protect us all and forgive us for our sins.
Let's calculate the destruction level of an earthquake with a magnitude of 9 mathematically.
Cautions about an Earthquake
⚠️ Before an Earthquake
Be prepared:
- Secure furniture: Attach cabinets, shelves, and mirrors firmly to walls.
- Store heavy items low: Keep heavy objects on lower shelves to prevent falling.
- Know safe spots: Identify strong places like under a sturdy table or next to an interior wall.
- Prepare an emergency kit: Include water, dry food, flashlight, medicine, first-aid, radio, extra batteries, etc.
- Plan escape routes: Know which way to leave the building safely.
- Practice drills: Practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”
- Avoid construction on weak soil: Unsafe ground increases earthquake damage.
- Check building strength: Ensure your home is built or reinforced to earthquake standards.
⚠️ During an Earthquake
Stay calm and protect yourself:
If indoors:
- Drop, Cover, Hold On: Drop to the ground, Take cover under a desk/table, Hold on until shaking stops
- Stay away from: windows, glass, mirrors, shelves, fans, or anything that can fall.
- Don’t use elevators.
If outside: Move away from:
- Buildings
- Electric poles
- Trees
- Bridges
- Billboards
Go to an open area and stay there.
If in a vehicle:
- Stop safely on the side of the road.
- Sit inside the vehicle until the shaking stops.
- Avoid parking under bridges, tall buildings, or trees.
⚠️ After an Earthquake
- Stay careful—aftershocks may follow:
- Check yourself and others for injuries.
- Give first aid if needed.
- Turn off gas, electricity, and water lines if you suspect damage.
- Do not use matches or flames until you are sure there is no gas leak.
- Evacuate damaged buildings.
- Avoid broken roads, bridges, or power lines.
- Listen to emergency radio instructions.
- Stay away from the sea (if in coastal areas): There may be a tsunami risk.
- Use mobile networks responsibly: Keep lines free for emergency communication.
- Help neighbors, children, and the elderly.
