{"id":25552,"date":"2025-04-08T09:01:34","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T09:01:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=25552"},"modified":"2025-04-08T09:24:23","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T09:24:23","slug":"how-to-stay-safe-if-youre-traveling-and-an-earthquake-strikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=25552","title":{"rendered":"How to Stay Safe if You\u2019re Traveling and an Earthquake Strikes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><\/div>\n<p id=\"article-summary\" class=\"css-79rysd e1wiw3jv0\">Many popular vacation destinations, like California, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Thailand and the Caribbean are in active quake zones. Here are tips for staying safe.<\/p>\n<section class=\"meteredContent css-1r7ky0e\">\n<div class=\"css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn\" data-testid=\"companionColumn-0\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">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, <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/04\/02\/world\/asia\/earthquake-bangkok-collapse.html\" title>even collapse<\/a>, in the tourist hot spot of Bangkok. Videos <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5eIi4pZRB0Y\" title rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">posted online<\/a> showed water from rooftop swimming pools spilling over the sides of high-rise hotels.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Scientists can\u2019t 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\u2019re planning to travel to these or other quake-prone regions, there are some steps you can take to stay safe.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"css-1u37br4 eoo0vm40\" id=\"link-4545a333\">Take advantage of technology<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Before you go, do some basic internet research to see if your destination has experienced major quakes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"Dropzone-1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn\" data-testid=\"companionColumn-1\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cSeconds matter,\u201d in an earthquake, said Sara McBride, a scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usgs.gov\/programs\/earthquake-hazards\" title rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Earthquake Hazards Program<\/a>. She pointed to footage from a Taiwan maternity ward during a <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/2024\/04\/02\/world\/asia\/map-taiwan-earthquake-hualien.html\" title>7.4-magnitude quake<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Some systems send alerts directly to your phone when quakes happen; you can also download apps like <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sassla.mx\/\" title rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">SASSLA<\/a> for Mexico, <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jnto.go.jp\/safety-tips\/eng\/app.html\" title rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">SafetyTips<\/a> or <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/nerv.app\/en\/\" title rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">NERV<\/a> for Japan, and <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usgs.gov\/faqs\/how-do-i-sign-shakealertr-earthquake-early-warning-system\" title rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">MyShake<\/a> in the United States to get push alerts. Also, register with the State Department\u2019s <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/travel\/en\/international-travel\/before-you-go\/step.html\" title rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Smart Traveler Enrollment Program<\/a>, and leave a copy of your itinerary with friends or family, as quakes often sever communication lines.<\/p>\n<div class=\"css-kbghgg\">\n<div class=\"css-121kum4\">\n<div class=\"css-171quhb\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-asuuk5\">\n<div class=\"css-7axq9l\" data-testid=\"optimistic-truncator-noscript\">\n<div data-testid=\"optimistic-truncator-noscript-message\" class=\"css-6yo1no\">\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">We are having trouble retrieving the article content.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1dv1kvn\" id=\"optimistic-truncator-a11y\">\n<hr \/>\n<p>Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/myaccount.nytimes.com\/auth\/login?response_type=cookie&amp;client_id=vi&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F04%2F08%2Ftravel%2Fearthquake-safety.html&amp;asset=opttrunc\">log into<\/a>\u00a0your Times account, or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F04%2F08%2Ftravel%2Fearthquake-safety.html\">subscribe<\/a>\u00a0for all of The Times.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1g71tqy\">\n<div data-testid=\"optimistic-truncator-message\" class=\"css-6yo1no\">\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">Thank you for your patience while we verify access.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">Already a subscriber?\u00a0<a data-testid=\"log-in-link\" class=\"css-z5ryv4\" href=\"https:\/\/myaccount.nytimes.com\/auth\/login?response_type=cookie&amp;client_id=vi&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F04%2F08%2Ftravel%2Fearthquake-safety.html&amp;asset=opttrunc\">Log in<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">Want all of The Times?\u00a0<a data-testid=\"subscribe-link\" class=\"css-z5ryv4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F04%2F08%2Ftravel%2Fearthquake-safety.html\">Subscribe<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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\u2019t 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\u2019re planning to travel to these or other quake-prone regions, there are some steps you can take to stay safe.Take advantage of technologyBefore 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.\u201cSeconds matter,\u201d 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\u2019s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, and leave a copy of your itinerary with friends or family, as quakes often sever communication lines.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and\u00a0log into\u00a0your Times account, or\u00a0subscribe\u00a0for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber?\u00a0Log in.Want all of The Times?\u00a0Subscribe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25554,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25552"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25555,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25552\/revisions\/25555"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}