Earthquake risk: WHO warns Uzbekistan

Earthquakes remain among the deadliest natural disasters in the world. Some regions of Uzbekistan are also located in zones of high seismic activity. For this reason, the World Health Organization has issued a warning.

According to WHO, earthquakes accounted for more than half of all deaths related to natural disasters between 2000 and 2023. This issue is of particular importance for Central Asian countries. Almost all of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as certain areas of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, are located in zones of high seismic activity. Experts are paying special attention to the Fergana Valley, which covers parts of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and is home to nearly 11 million people.

WHO emphasizes that the preparedness of the healthcare system for possible earthquakes is of decisive importance. The experience of the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria in 2023 showed that if hospitals stop functioning immediately after a natural disaster, thousands of victims may be left without timely medical assistance.

Experts note that investments in the seismic resilience of medical institutions are much lower than the costs of dealing with the consequences of disasters. According to UN estimates, building new hospitals in line with seismic resilience requirements increases project costs by less than 4%, while modernizing existing buildings may require around 1% of their value and can significantly improve their resistance to strong tremors.

In addition to strengthening medical infrastructure, WHO recommends regularly conducting training exercises, ensuring the readiness of emergency medical teams, improving cooperation between services, and paying special attention to protecting the most vulnerable groups of the population, including the elderly, persons with disabilities and forcibly displaced people.

Experts cite Istanbul as an example, as the city is located near one of the most active tectonic faults in the world. According to studies, the probability of a strong earthquake in this area remains high in the coming decades. This once again proves the need for advance preparedness not only in Turkey, but also in other countries with high seismic activity, including Central Asian states.

According to WHO, the main lesson from recent major earthquakes is that preparedness must be ensured before the next disaster occurs.

Earlier, it was reported that two powerful earthquakes occurred in Venezuela on June 24 this year. As a result, the death toll neared 4,500, while 16,740 people were injured. No exact information has yet been provided on the number of missing people.