Munich Re announced that it is supporting a prevention project in a region in India that is prone to earthquakes. The two-year project in conjunction with GeoHazards International, is aimed at protecting people, buildings and infrastructure in Aizawl, a city in northeast India,where the 300,000 inhabitants are exposed to an extremely high earthquake risk.
Aizawl, capital of the state of Mizoram, “is situated in a region highly prone to earthquakes and located in the geologically complex border area between the Indian and Eurasian Plates,” Munich Re explained. “The area was hit by earthquakes exceeding magnitude 8 on the Richter Scale in 1869, 1897 and 1918.
“In Aizawl, buildings of up to ten stories have been constructed on the steep, landslide-prone mountain slopes. The city lacks the technical resources and expertise to introduce and apply effective measures for improving earthquake safety.”
In its support role Munich Re said the “aim of the project is to advise the local government in Aizawl, gain its support for appropriate measures and help to implement them. A key factor is to secure the long-term involvement of local specialists early on, and develop viable risk mitigation options with them based on the best available data.
“The local measures include, for example, training in what to do if an earthquake occurs, and the structural consolidation of state buildings like schools, hospitals and other major infrastructure.” The reinsurer’s local implementation partner, GeoHazards International, is “an organization which has over 20 years’ experience in prevention projects in India and elsewhere.”
The bulletin also explained: “This non-profit commitment of Munich Re in India is part of its Corporate Citizenship program, which entails sponsoring increasingly substantial and long-term projects associated with our core business in conjunction with selected partners. At the same time, Munich Re will continue to support social and cultural projects at its various business sites.”
Source: Munich Re