Earthquake near a major city

Earthquake near a major city with death toll ‘unprecedented in human history' a matter of time: Professor Iain Stewart

IT'S only a matter of time before a huge earthquake strikes a major city and results in a death toll "unprecedented in human history".

Well-known Scottish scientist Iain Stewart delivered that grim prediction yesterday in Brisbane during an address to a global geology conference.Professor Stewart, a geologist and academic who has gained fame for multiple BBC television series on the planet, said the risk of disaster has grown because a growing number of mega-cities are built on or near major earthquake faults.
Large settlements since antiquity have been based on these fault lines because they also help provide water and are usually located near flat plains ideally suited for growing crops.
This "fatal attraction" to dangerous areas was "actually a good thing", because historically the trade-off was worth it since earthquakes were rare and most cities were not that large, he said.

While earthquakes today were often less destructive because of improved building codes, more people were affected because cities were larger, Prof Stewart told delegates at the 34th International Geological Congress.

Despite the danger of such hazards, people were still drawn to earthquake-prone California and the US gulf states, which were routinely hit by hurricanes.
Although it might seem that the number of natural disasters around the world is increasing, there are simply more people living in harm's way, and that fact creates the illusion. "We create the template that brings these disasters," Prof Stewart said.
Similarly, people want to live only 20m from the beach, even in regions liable to be struck by tsunamis. Even after properties have been destroyed, many owners vow to rebuild.
Further research was needed to understand why people continued to have such a high threshold for living in danger zones and why they often chose to ignore the science that could save their lives, he said.

 heraldsun.com.au 9 Aug 2012

Comments to this article from:

RICHARD of MELBOURNE. Posted at 9:40 AM August 09, 2012

A similar message was given back in 1993 to a Gold Coast conference and how there was no DISPLAN for the dormant shield volcano Mount Warning. This could mean that seismic activity could take out the entire SE region of Queensland and kill a million people at any one time. One of the tourism associations did not like this at all and banned such conferences in their area. Now they hold such things elsewhere like up in Brisbane. Ironic that there are several touchy subjects that bring out the conflicts but sadly this gives out a false sense of security and duty of care breached. Covering up the harsh reality of shark attacks, missing people and body parts brought up in trawlers and found washed ashore is also a threat to their precious tourism. Safety campaigns and even new DISPLAN measures are attacked and the ring leaders persecuted. Little wonder that many of us researchers end up moving overseas to where we are wanted. When the big events happen there will be little warning and no major plans to address such things. This is what the Bilderberg Group or Club wants for global population reduction. Wake up people and stop them controlling your destiny. Vote Julia and co out NOW.

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