A high-magnitude earthquake affected Ecuador just a month after the devastating one in Turkey and Syria. According to recent updates, it was of 6.7 magnitudes and hit around midday on March 18, 2023, on the southern coast of Ecuador. 18 casualties are noted and more than 400 people are injured. This may raise the question of why there’s a sudden rise in earthquakes around the world.
However, when we see past statistics, there isn’t a significant rise in earthquakes. Small fluctuations over the years are also considered normal. As per data, there are at least 15 big earthquakes of 7 and above magnitude each year. So far in 2023, six big earthquakes are recorded, which is within the expected range.
Ring of Fire belt notes the highest number of earthquakes each year
Three seismically active zones around the world are prone to earthquakes. The most notable is the Ring of Fire belt, and almost 90% of yearly earthquakes and 81% of major earthquakes occur here. It is also a belt where most active volcanos are found, hence it is prone to seismic activities.
This Circum-Pacific belt is located at the rim of the pacific ocean. It is shaped like a horseshoe and includes the coast of South America, North America, Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula, and some western Pacific islands.
The Alpide belt is another earthquake-prone area, and is located in the southern region of Eurasia and faces 17% of the world’s earthquakes. It includes Java, Sumatra, Himalaya, Mediterranean, and the Atlantic areas.
Lastly, the third earthquake-prone area is the Mid-Atlantic ridge, which is mostly located deep within the sea and doesn’t affect humans as often. The closest country to this range is Iceland, which is located above the Mid-Atlantic ridge.
The major reasons behind the seeming rise of earthquakes around the world
Although earthquakes around the world haven’t grown in number or magnitude, there are a few factors that bring them to public attention. First and foremost is that earthquakes are affecting more populated areas.
When earthquakes occur at the center of populated cities, they affect more lives and infrastructure. Hence, the frequency may remain the same but their impact rises.
Another reason is clustering. When earthquakes occur frequently and in a closer region, they are more noticeable. Even though the total number of earthquakes remains the same, their frequency makes them seem greater than usual.
Moreover, the rise of global communication brings us closer to the devastation and survivors. More people get quick and better coverage of events which all together creates the image of a rise in earthquakes.
Therefore, earthquakes such as in Ecuador, Turkey, and Syria don’t show a worrisome rise in count, however, their impacts are more noticeable. In such cases, the residential areas in seismically active zones need better infrastructure and safety precautions to limit the number of casualties.
Do you feel earthquakes have risen in recent times? What set of precautions is your country taking for natural calamities? Do let us know in the comments below and follow Spiel Times for more insights into the current events around the world. Stay safe.