Earthquake preparedness: Rescue equipment being spread across 41 points, 100 fire stations ready

Photo: Collected

Fire Service and Civil Defence has taken an initiative to decentralise manpower, rescue equipment and the command structure with the aim that rescue operations do not come to a halt even if any fire station or the headquarters is damaged in a major earthquake.

Under this, rescue equipment is being spread across 41 points in and around Dhaka, a special rescue team has been deployed at Purbachal, separate rescue teams have been formed in the divisional cities and 100 fire stations around Dhaka are being kept ready to assist the capital in case of emergency need.

Shahjahan Sikder, officer in charge of the Fire Service media cell, said rescue operations may need to be conducted not in one place but in different areas at the same time in a major earthquake. The initiative to decentralise manpower, equipment and the command system has been taken with this matter in consideration.

According to earthquake analysts, a major earthquake occurs about every 100 years, which is called a major earthquake or mega disaster. As a hundred years have passed since a large-scale earthquake in the country, there is fear of such a disaster at any time. Although it is possible to give a forecast two to three days in advance in the case of storms, such technology has not yet been invented in the case of earthquakes. As a result, there is no alternative to preparation and training.

Initiative to keep the command system functional

Fire Service said rescue and other activities in any disaster, including earthquakes, depend on command. So that command remains functional even if the old headquarters building in Old Dhaka is damaged, arrangements have been made for the command officials concerned, including two directors, to hold office in Mirpur and the main part of the headquarters’ media wing has also been moved there. The activities of the training complex at Mirpur-10 have been shifted to the new multipurpose training complex at Purbachal.

Earthquake-resistant headquarters in Mirpur

As there is risk regarding the building in Old Dhaka, an earthquake-resistant multi-storey headquarters building is being constructed in Mirpur. In this building under construction at Mirpur 10 with the cooperation of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), ‘base isolation technology’ is being used for the first time in Bangladesh, so that the building will not collapse even in a magnitude 8 earthquake. The work is supposed to be completed in 2028 with the cooperation of the Public Works Department; the entire directorate will then be shifted there.

Decentralisation of equipment to 41 points

Although other stations had manpower and equipment according to need, most of the firefighting and rescue equipment used to be kept at the headquarters. Out of the fear that rescue activities would be disrupted if that building collapsed in an earthquake and the equipment got trapped, those have been distributed among 41 points in and around Dhaka. As a result, if any station gets trapped, work can be carried on by bringing equipment from the nearest station.

Special rescue team

The manpower of fire stations may not be adequate in a major disaster. For this reason, the SRT or Special Rescue Team has been formed. A special team of 50 to 60 members has been kept at Purbachal in Dhaka, who will go to the affected areas after a disaster and conduct rescue work. Likewise, one SRT team of 20 members each has been kept at every divisional headquarters, who have been given special training in collapsed structure search and rescue operations.

100 stations ready to assist Dhaka

As there is a risk of major damage in Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet in an earthquake, 100 fire stations outside the divisional cities have been earmarked. Assistance can be sent from these stations if any station of the metropolis is damaged or manpower is inadequate. Discussions have been held with the Air Force on sending equipment and rescue teams by helicopter if roads are blocked, and an initiative to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) is under way.

Equipment supply and communication drill

The director general of Fire Service has held several rounds of meetings with the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and the disaster directorate on tackling earthquakes, where the requirements of rescue operations were presented. There have been talks on supplying equipment and gear to Fire Service for working in a mega disaster and some decisions have also been taken.

In a major fire or mega earthquake, wireless coverage and mobile towers may be damaged and the communication system may be cut off. For this reason, a countrywide communication exercise was held last August with the assistance of the Amateur Radio Association of Bangladesh (ARAB), where a drill was carried out by creating a situation of radio, mobile and land telephone being cut off.

Professor Dr Md Zillur Rahman of the Department of Disaster Science and Climate Resilience at Dhaka University said there is a risk of earthquakes in Bangladesh and this risk is higher particularly in the north-eastern region, including Dhaka, Sylhet, Chattogram, Rangpur and Mymensingh. So coordinated preparation is needed. Alongside increasing trained manpower, necessary small and large equipment must be procured, regular drills held and those monitored and maintained.

He further said tackling a major earthquake is difficult even for developed countries; a difficult situation may be created in Bangladesh too in such a disaster. However, the highest preparation and efforts must be continued with the existing capacity.

Lieutenant Colonel Md Mahmudul Hasan, director (operation and maintenance) of the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the biggest challenge after a major earthquake will be to tackle disasters occurring at different places at the same time. In particular, building collapses, people getting trapped, fires from gas lines and electrical accidents can make the situation more complex.

According to him, in a densely populated city like Dhaka, it may become difficult for rescue vehicles to reach the spot because of narrow roads, traffic congestion, illegal parking and debris. Entering rescue work without verifying the stability of damaged buildings is also risky. In such a situation, the priority will be quick assessment of the situation, identification of trapped people, priority-based rescue and working in coordination with all agencies. At the same time, ensuring the safety of rescuers is also extremely important.