MADAGASCAR - EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS

     Madagascar does experience earthquakes occasionally but none have resulted in the loss of life or much property damage.  The Ankaratra Plateau in the center of the island is the most seismically active area.  In 1985 the area experienced a 5.2 magnitude earthquakes and in 1991 a 5.5 magnitude earthquake. More recently on July 11, 2015, a 5.6 earthquake occurred near Vakinankaratra, which is in central Madagascar. To the north of Ankaratra Plateau is the Aloatra-Ankay rift which is also seismically active.  On Jan. 26, 2013, the town of Tulear in the southwest of Madagascar experienced a 5.3 magnitude earthquake which broke some windows but no loss of life or other property damage was reported.
     I could not find any information in regards to Madagascar making any efforts to prepare for an earthquake catastrophe.  Through my research I have drawn my own conclusions about how prepared Madagascar would be if a major earthquake occurs and the scenario is grim.  Madagascar, even by third world standards, is a very poor country.  Around  90% of the population lives on less than $2 a day.  The vast majority of the population does not have extra food or water stored up or even a handy first aid kit to rely on if a major earthquake hits.  These people are barely surviving daily and would be at the mercy of their government or foreign aid for help.  The government of Madagascar has experienced political problems in the last several years.  An illegal coup in 2009 resulted in a suspension of all foreign aid.  Since foreign aid makes up 70% of the national budget, this was devastating to an already struggling government.  In 2014, elections were held and a new leader was elected which resulted in foreign aid being restored.  Still, the GDP (growth domestic product), had a negative growth last year and Madagascar is in debt 3 billion dollars to the United States.  Madagascar does have a government agency to deal with disasters , The National Bureau of Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC), which by all accounts is very poorly funded and ill-equipped.  The major disasters in Madagascar that result in loss of life and property damage are caused by typhoons and flooding.  Since earthquakes have not been a problem in the past or currently, the focus of the BNGRC I assume would be directed largely at typhoons and flooding preparation and the aftermath.


     The infrastructure of Madagascar is very poor and in many places not even present.  The population is approximately 22 million with 70% living in rural areas.  Only 17% of roads are paved.  The major cities have paved roads and there are some paved roads between major cities but the vast majority of roads are dirt or gravel.  If a major earthquake occurred, it would take much longer to get help to many areas because of the conditions of these roads.  During the rainy season that occurs between November and April, many of these roads cannot even be used because of muddy conditions and flooding.  Although there are medical centers and hospitals around the island, the majority are concentrated in urban areas.  Madagascar has an average of three hospital beds per 10,000 people and an extremely low percentage of trained medical professionals.  In 2010 the healthcare budget was cut by 30%.  If a major earthquake occurred, Madagascar would not be able to provide medical care for many of the injured because of its already compromised health care system.  Clean water and sanitation are current problems that Madagascar faces.  Around 11 million people in Madagascar don't have access to clean water and only 20% have direct access to a toilet.  This has resulted in many people contracting waterborne diseases like bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and typhoid fever.  An earthquake would only exacerbate these problems, especially in urban areas where the population is denser.  How would a health care system already overwhelmed by injuries caused by a major earthquake be able to care for people developing various diseases like cholera?


     In 1960, Madagascar gained its independence from France.  The vast majority of government buildings in the capital and regional urban centers were built during colonial times.  I doubt that any of these government buildings, or even hospitals and schools, have been retrofitted for earthquakes since Madagascar does not have a history of major earthquakes and the cost would just be too much.  If a major earthquake occurred, many of these buildings would be vulnerable to damage or be completely destroyed.  This would compromise the government's ability to function which would especially be needed during a time of crisis.  In many of the rural area, homes are built with mud, bricks or bamboo-like material.  If a major earthquake occurred, most of these structures would be destroyed leaving much of the population without shelter.  Even for the very small percentage of wealthier individuals who can afford to build their homes with corrugated metal or cement,  major damage if not complete destruction is very likely during a major earthquake.  Deforestation is a big problem in Madagascar not only threatening wildlife but also creating potential hazards.  Many hillsides are especially vulnerable to landslides, especially when there is a lot of shaking going on during an earthquake.  I could go on and on but I think I will stop here.  The one positive note is that Madagascar does not have a history of major earthquakes and hopefully it will stay that way.


REFERENCES


Madagascar - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, www.wikipedia.org
Madagascar Plates - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, www.wikipedia.org
Poverty in Madagascar - the Borgen Project, www.borgenproject.org
Madagascar - the Untold Crisis, www.unric.org
Water Aid Madagascar, www.wateraid.org
BNGRC, www.bngrc.org