University of Granada: basic advice on how to deal with an earthquake

Prevention, as in the case of natural disasters such as the wildfires that ravage the Iberian Peninsula every summer, is crucial when it comes to saving lives in areas of high seismic intensity such as the Granada basin, in the central sector of the Eastern Betics.

This is confirmed by the institute at the University of Granada dedicated to analysing this phenomenon, which has published a series of recommendations for both before and after an earthquake is experienced such as the one that has just struck the province of Granada.

Experts recommend having a plan in place in advance so as not to improvise when a hypothetical seismic event occurs. Homes should be stocked with first-aid kits, torches, radios and batteries for them, and you should know where to shut off basic utilities, since a damaged power supply could cause further damage to buildings. Any heavy object that is not properly anchored to the wall could pose a danger.

During the quake, you must remain calm: statistically it will be an event without sufficient magnitude to pose a threat to life. This is important because many accidents occur when people try to leave or enter buildings during earthquakes. You should wait for the shaking to stop before considering moving from where you are.

Indoors, the most important thing is to protect your head: seek shelter under tables or chairs if the shaking is strong, for example. You must stay away from objects, walls or windows that could injure you while the event is taking place.

If you are outside, move away from buildings and do not enter any: there may be further aftershocks that end up damaging them completely. If you are driving when the shaking occurs, stop where traffic conditions allow and stay inside the vehicle. If you are in an area near the coast, head for a distant, elevated place and pay attention to messages from the authorities: a tsunami warning could be issued.

When the phenomenon is over, if you consider it safer to leave the building, never use the lift and take the stairs instead. The condition of cracks in the structure will indicate the seriousness of what has happened. If they are more than 3 millimetres wide and follow a diagonal or stepped pattern, the structure is at risk; do not go inside, or leave it as soon as you can, calmly.

Once you have moved away from the immediate vicinity and are in an area where rubble or debris cannot fall on you, you must assess whether the building remains vertical or is leaning in relation to adjacent structures, whether the pavement in front of it shows damage, and the condition of nearby lamp posts.

Then examine the façade to check for possible cracks: the most dangerous are diagonal and between one and three millimetres wide. If they are less than one millimetre, the damage is generally minor and you may enter the building with caution.

You should not make calls that are not emergencies, so as not to overload telephone lines and leave someone who really needs them without service. If you hear someone trapped under the rubble, tell them to cover their mouth and nose to avoid inhaling dust and, as far as possible, to bang on a nearby object to indicate their position. If you see someone seriously injured but not trapped, you should not move them until the emergency services arrive.