Abstract:
The 7.6 magnitude shallow focus earthquake of October 8, 2005, with an epicenter few km
NNE of Muzaffarabad, Kashmir, changed the lives and perceptions of the affected millions as
well as of those not so affected. This article discusses such physical aspects of the earthquake as
origin, geology, prediction, measurement and response of civil structure. The article emphasizes
that it is not the magnitude but the destruction caused and lives lost that actually determine the
status of an earthquake. Since Risk = magnitude of natural hazard x vulnerability, a lot of
damage could have been averted by focusing on vulnerability, better preparedness and inexpensive
building guidelines.
