Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Training on earthquake hazard assessment and aftershock forecasting

A training on 'Earthquake Hazard Assessment and Aftershock Forecasting' has begun – in Kathmandu – with the objectives to enhance the understanding on earthquake monitoring, seismological studies, data generation, and hazard evaluation,
The training has been jointly organised by Department of Mines and Geology (DMG), United States Geological Survey (USGS), National Society for Earthquake Technology-Nepal (NSET) and Earthquake Safety Solutions (ESS) with the support from Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA).
Addressing the inaugural session, Prof Dr Prem Nath Maskey from Institute of Engineering (IOE) acknowledged the importance of this endeavor. "While talking about the disaster risk, hazard becomes a more important component," he said, adding that with that sense, it’s very much pertinent to conduct training on earthquake hazard assessment and also on topic of aftershock forecasting, which is new idea for Nepal. "We are not only conducting training for new generation, but we are also going to learn new ideas and approaches."
From the chair, director general of DMG Dr Soma Nath Sapkota stressed on how important it is to have right policies for right purpose. "The deliberations from this training are to serve for better policies and ultimately serve our people," he said, adding that all scientists should be committed to make better policies and contribute to the people.
Likewise, earthquake expert Dr Amod Mani Dixit talked about recent Feta tornado and Gorkha Earthquake. "Feta Tornado has asked challenging question to scientists," he said, reminding the 2015 Gorkha earthquake.
Seismologist Dr Susan Hough from USGS, on the occasion, mentioned about ongoing collaboration that is helping work together for building better knowledge and understanding on seismic issues. "The 2015 Gorkha Earthquake was a great tragedy and also an impetus for actions not only to address reconstruction needs but also for hazard assessment, building code implementation, seismic monitoring and range of activities," she said appreciating Nepal’s efforts in the areas of seismic science and hazards assessment during past 15 years, and wished from USGS side to continue collaborating with Nepal Government, NSET and partners.
On the occasion, executive director to NSET Surya Narayan Shrestha highlighted the objectives of training that was conducted to enhance understanding on what is going on in our country, in terms of earthquake monitoring, in terms of seismological studies and also in terms of data generation and hazard evaluation, to familiarise with new idea, new concepts, new methodologies, tools, techniques such as on aftershock forecasting and to go one step ahead in enhancing collaboration – among Nepali professionals and experts from USGS and other agencies.
After the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake and subsequent aftershocks, earthquake phenomena have been much discoursed in public, academic and scientific communities in Nepal. There is a felt need of building better scientific understanding and enhanced civic education on seismic phenomena in Nepal.

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