The Dhaka Profile and Earthquake www.emi-megacities.

org
Risk Atlas is a compilation of physical A Member of the U.N. Global Platform for
& socio-economic profiles, built Disaster Risk Reduction
environment, hazards, vulnerability &
risks information, and maps of Dhaka. Bangladesh Urban Earthquake
It was based on the initial results Resilience Project
and findings of the Bangladesh Urban
Earthquake Resilience Project (BUERP). February 2014
The Atlas will help in providing essential scientific data and
information to improve capacity for earthquake resilience
of Bangladesh. The Dhaka Profile and The Risk Atlas is supported
Earthquake Risk Atlas is one by a Geographic Information

1 Dhaka Profile of the tools that will assist to System (GIS) which will
raise awareness and support enable users to generate their
Background
Physical and Socio-economic decision making and policies own maps for their disaster
Profile Components aimed at mitigating the impact risk resilient activities. By
• Political of earthquake hazards through having all data into a single
• Physical
structural and non-structural spatial database, stakeholders
• Socio-cultural
• Built Environment vulnerability reduction can work more efficiently
measures. in planning and executing
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

2 Earthquake Hazards
Bangladesh Tectonics
Historical Seismic Activity
activities.

Modeled Sources
Soil Classification
Peak Ground Accelerations
Liquefaction

Earthquake Vulnerability

3 and Risk Analysis

Vulnerability Definition Social Vulnerability Cover photo © Nasim Borno
Physical Vulnerability • Casualties
• Building Exposure • Population Affected
For more information on where to get a copy of the
and Inventory • Economic and Dhaka Profile and Earthquake Risk Atlas, contact:

Dhaka Profile
• Buildings Vulnerability Property Losses
• Building Losses Risk Definition Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Unit
• Lifelines Physical Risk Indicators South Asia Sustainable Development Department
• Essential Facilities Socio-Economic Impact The World Bank Office Dhaka
Plot E 32, Sher-e-bangla Nagar, Agargaon

and Earthquake
Factors Phone: 880-2-8159001-28

4 Urban Disaster Risk Index Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative

Risk Atlas
Puno Building, 47 Kalayaan Avenue, Diliman,
Physical Risk
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines 1101
Socio-Economic Impact Risk
T/F: +632 9279643; T: +632 4334074
Combined Risk
www.emi-megacities.org EMI © 2013
 *
(Disaster Risk Management Online Program, Global Faciltiy for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, 2011)
What is the Purpose of the What’s inside the Dhaka Profile and
Dhaka Profile and Earthquake Risk Atlas? Earthquake Risk Atlas

It is intended to provide a scientific and systematized presentation Peak Ground Acceleration (g)
136.37 6.54 with Soil Amplification
of the results and key findings of the Bangladesh Urban Earthquake sq km million Ground motion is the
Resilience Project (BUERP) by compiling physical, demographic, and 0.216 Very Strong measure of the amplitude
Population and period of seismic
socio-economic data with risk information and analyses, then, showing Dhaka waves once it arrives at
them through maps, tables, and charts. The Risk Atlas translates the earth’s surface.* Higher
91 327,503 ground motion may bring
these technical information into a single, straight forward, easy-to- wards higher damage or impact
understand presentation. These information could be utilized to Building
Structures
provide the scientific foundation in improving capacity for earthquake
resilience of Bangladesh. 0.471 Severe
Bangladesh is exposed to significant
seismic risk due to its proximity to
the seismically active tectonic plates.
Tu r a g Riv

A Magnitude 7.5 event on the Madhupur

Who should read this document? fault and a Magnitude 8 event on the
Plate Boundary 2 fault have the greatest
impact on the city of Dhaka, Bangladesh’s
The Risk Atlas is for everyone and can be used by anyone. Experts, capital.
er

professionals, and specialists in the field of Hazard Vulnerability Risk The Madhupur fault event is to the north
Assessment (HVRA) as well as practitioners and researchers in of the city. Ground motions generally
decrease from north to south and are
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and its related amplified in areas of soft soil. The Plate
fields can find relevant information. Stakeholders such as government Banani Lake
Boundary 2 fault is to the east of the city
and ground motions decrease going east to
officials, community leaders and the private sector involved in and has
interests in urban DRRM can use information in the Risk Atlas for
west. W N E

educational, communication, and planning purposes. What earthquakes have impacted S

Dhaka? Gulshan Lake

Intensity VIII
How will this document benefit the reader? • Bengal Earthquake, 1885.
Magnitude 7
• Great Indian Earthquake,h1897.
al

K
Magnituderi8.1
»» The readers of this document will be informed of the earthquake
ba
g un

hazard, identify physical and socio-economic vulnerabilities and Intensity VII

• Srimangal B e
Earthquake, 1918.
be knowledgeable of the risks presented in the event of an Magnitude 7.6
earthquake in Dhaka.
Intensity VI (intensity where structural ¨ Fire Station
»» The Risk Atlas would be able to meet the need for reliable
damage begins to occur) K Hospital
information in the formulation and development of • 1923, Magnitude 7.1
ca Police Station
Bu

Dhanmodi Lake
comprehensive risk reduction and management strategies. • 1934, Magnitude 8.1
• 1935, Magnitude 6.0 School
rig a

»» This document would be a compilation of information that could • 1943, Magnitude 7.2
serve as the scientific foundation for policy making and planning • 2001, Magnitude 5.1
ng

Buriganga River
a Ri v

for growth and development.

Ground motion based on postulated
magnitude 7.5 earthquake on the
er

Madhupur Fault Latitude 23° 42 ′0″ N

The data used in the brochure was shared to the Bangladesh Urban
Earthquake Resilience Project (BUERP) courtesy of RAJUK in 2013 Longitude 90° 22′ 30″ E

WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Awareness Raising
Knowledge of hazards and risks by the
general public will raise awareness and
build social responsibility and social
resilience.
Competency Building
Training of architects, engineers,
! planners, and construction
professionals will improve standards for
earthquake-resilient construction, thus
protecting people and property.
Improving Response
Having competent Emergency
Management plans, drills, exercises and
trainings for first responders.
Implementation of
Building Codes
Implementation and enforcement of
the building codes will ensure that
buildings will protect their occupants
and reduce damages and losses.
Risk-Sensitive
Land Use Plans
Understanding of hazards and risks
can inform land use plans and zoning
ordinances to build away from
hazardous areas and reduce exposure
to earthquakes.
www.emi-megacities.org
A Member of the U.N. Global Platform for
Disaster Risk Reduction
Expected losses from a postulated Bangladesh Urban Earthquake
magnitude 7.5 earthquake on the Madhupur Fault Resilience Project
February 2014
US$5.7 billion
estimated
losses
over
200,000
injured &
50,000
fatalities
180,000
estimated
damaged
buildings
For more information on where to get a copy of the
EARTHQUAKE
Dhaka Profile and Earthquake Risk Atlas, contact:
Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Unit
South Asia Sustainable Development Department
The World Bank Office Dhaka
RISK IN
Plot E 32, Sher-e-bangla Nagar, Agargaon
Phone: 880-2-8159001-28
DHAKA
Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative
Puno Building, 47 Kalayaan Avenue, Diliman,
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines 1101
T/F: +632 9279643; T: +632 4334074 How a magnitude 7.5 earthquake will affect
www.emi-megacities.org EMI © 2013 the world’s densest megacity
 there are
327,503*
Building Structures
in Dhaka
Bangladesh
Ground motion is the
measure of the amplitude
Commercial and period of seismic
19, 225 (5.86%) waves once it arrives at
the earth’s surface.** Higher
ground motion may bring
higher damage or impact
Topography of the area surrounding the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta (banglapire.org) Institutional
6, 308 (1.85%)
Bangladesh is exposed to significant The Madhupur fault event is to the Dhaka
seismic risk due to its proximity north of the city. Ground motions
to the seismically active tectonic generally decrease from north to
plates. A Magnitude 7.5 event on the south and are amplified in areas Industrial
Madhupur fault and a Magnitude 8 of soft soil. The Plate Boundary 2 9, 651 (2.95%)
event on the Plate Boundary 2 fault fault is to the east of the city and 136.37
have the greatest impact on the city ground motions decrease going east sq km
of Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital. to west.

Residential
What earthquakes have impacted Dhaka? 266, 486 (81.44%) 6.54
Intensity VIII Intensity VI (intensity where million
• Bengal Earthquake, 1885. structural damage begins to
Magnitude 7 occur) Population
• Great Indian Earthquake, 1897.
Magnitude 8.1 • 1923, Magnitude 7.1
Others 91
25, 833 (7.90%) wards
• 1934, Magnitude 8.1
Intensity VII • 1935, Magnitude 6.0
• Srimangal Earthquake, 1918. • 1943, Magnitude 7.2
Magnitude 7.6 • 2001, Magnitude 5.1

The Dhaka Profile and Earthquake Risk Atlas is a compilation of physical & socio-economic profiles, built environment, hazards,
vulnerability & risks information, and maps of Dhaka. It is one of the tools that will assist to raise awareness and support decision making
and policies aimed at mitigating the impact of earthquake hazards through structural and non-structural vulnerability reduction measures.
The Atlas will help in providing essential scientific data and information to improve capacity for earthquake resilience of Bangladesh.

Chapter Chapter
¨ Fire Station
For more information: Dhaka Profile Earthquake Hazards
1 Background
Physical and Socio-economic
2 Bangladesh Tectonics
Historical Seismic Activity
K Hospital

ca Police Station
Profile Components Modeled Sources
• Political Soil Classification School
• Physical Peak Ground Accelerations Peak Ground Acceleration (g)
• Socio-cultural with Soil Amplification
Liquefaction
• Built Environment 0.216 Very Strong

Chapter Chapter
Earthquake Vulnerability and Risk Analysis Urban Disaster Risk Index
3 Vulnerability Definition
Physical Vulnerability
Social Vulnerability
• Casualties
4 Physical Risk
Socio-Economic Impact Risk Buriganga River
• Building Exposure and • Population Affected Combined Risk

•
•
Inventory
Buildings Vulnerability
Building Losses
• Economic and
Property Losses
Risk Definition
The data used in the brochure was shared
to the Bangladesh Urban Earthquake 0.471 Severe
Latitude 23° 42 ′0″ N
W N E

• Lifelines Physical Risk Indicators Resilience Project (BUERP) courtesy of Longitude 90° 22′ 30″ E S
• Essential Facilities Socio-Economic Impact Factors RAJUK in 2013
*based on RAJUK Dataset (Disaster Risk Management Online Program, Global Faciltiy for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, 2011)
**