Many popular vacation destinations, like California, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Thailand and the Caribbean are in active quake zones. Here are tips for staying safe.
On March 28, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, devastating communities and killing at least 3,500 people. The quake also caused buildings to sway, even collapse, in the tourist hot spot of Bangkok. Videos posted online showed water from rooftop swimming pools spilling over the sides of high-rise hotels.
Scientists can’t predict exactly where or when the next big quake will occur, though many popular vacation destinations such as California, Chile, Fiji, Italy, Japan, Mexico and the Caribbean lie in active earthquake zones. If you’re planning to travel to these or other quake-prone regions, there are some steps you can take to stay safe.
Take advantage of technology
Before you go, do some basic internet research to see if your destination has experienced major quakes.
Identify which local agency issues guidance and information during disasters and check whether your destination has an earthquake early-warning system. These networks of sensors automatically analyze big quakes the moment they start then send out an alert, giving those affected seconds to prepare before the ground starts shaking.
“Seconds matter,” in an earthquake, said Sara McBride, a scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program. She pointed to footage from a Taiwan maternity ward during a 7.4-magnitude quake last year, when an alert sent a trio of nurses scrambling to push together a dozen bassinets, holding the newborns safely in place as the building lurched.
Some systems send alerts directly to your phone when quakes happen; you can also download apps like SASSLA for Mexico, SafetyTips or NERV for Japan, and MyShake in the United States to get push alerts. Also, register with the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, and leave a copy of your itinerary with friends or family, as quakes often sever communication lines.