www.emi-megacities.orgA Member of the U.N. Global Platform for

Disaster Risk Reduction

Bangladesh Urban Earthquake Resilience Project

Dhaka Profileand Earthquake

Risk Atlas

The Dhaka Profile and

Earthquake Risk Atlas 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 Risk Atlas is supported

by a Geographic Information

System (GIS) which will

enable users to generate their

own maps for their disaster

risk resilient activities. By

having all data into a single

spatial database, stakeholders

can work more efficiently

in planning and executing

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

activities. Earthquake Hazards

Dhaka ProfileBackgroundPhysical and Socio-economic Profile Components• Political• Physical • Socio-cultural• Built Environment

Bangladesh TectonicsHistorical Seismic ActivityModeled SourcesSoil ClassificationPeak Ground Accelerations Liquefaction

Vulnerability DefinitionPhysical Vulnerability• Building Exposure

and Inventory • Buildings Vulnerability• Building Losses• Lifelines• Essential Facilities

Social Vulnerability• Casualties• Population Affected• Economic and

Property LossesRisk DefinitionPhysical Risk IndicatorsSocio-Economic Impact Factors

Physical RiskSocio-Economic Impact RiskCombined Risk

1

Earthquake Vulnerability and Risk Analysis

Urban Disaster Risk Index

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 was based on the initial results and findings of the Bangladesh Urban Earthquake Resilience Project (BUERP).

2

3

4

The Atlas will help in providing essential scientific data and information to improve capacity for earthquake resilience of Bangladesh.

Cover photo © Nasim Borno

Earthquakes and Megacities InitiativePuno Building, 47 Kalayaan Avenue, Diliman,

Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines 1101T/F: +632 9279643; T: +632 4334074

www.emi-megacities.org EMI © 2013

For more information on where to get a copy of the Dhaka Profile and Earthquake Risk Atlas, contact:

Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change UnitSouth Asia Sustainable Development Department

The World Bank Office DhakaPlot E 32, Sher-e-bangla Nagar, Agargaon

Phone: 880-2-8159001-28

February 2014

Be gunb

ari Khal

Gulshan Lake

Dhanmodi Lake

Banani Lake

Buriganga River

Tura g River

Who should read this document?

What is the Purpose of the Dhaka Profile and Earthquake Risk Atlas?

The Risk Atlas is for everyone and can be used by anyone. Experts,

professionals, and specialists in the field of Hazard Vulnerability Risk

Assessment (HVRA) as well as practitioners and researchers in

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and its related

fields can find relevant information. Stakeholders such as government

officials, community leaders and the private sector involved in and has

interests in urban DRRM can use information in the Risk Atlas for

educational, communication, and planning purposes.

It is intended to provide a scientific and systematized presentation

of the results and key findings of the Bangladesh Urban Earthquake

Resilience Project (BUERP) by compiling physical, demographic, and

socio-economic data with risk information and analyses, then, showing

them through maps, tables, and charts. The Risk Atlas translates

these technical information into a single, straight forward, easy-to-

understand presentation. These information could be utilized to

provide the scientific foundation in improving capacity for earthquake

resilience of Bangladesh.

How will this document benefit the reader?

» The readers of this document will be informed of the earthquake

hazard, identify physical and socio-economic vulnerabilities and

be knowledgeable of the risks presented in the event of an

earthquake in Dhaka.

» The Risk Atlas would be able to meet the need for reliable

information in the formulation and development of

comprehensive risk reduction and management strategies.

» This document would be a compilation of information that could

serve as the scientific foundation for policy making and planning

for growth and development.

What’s inside the Dhaka Profile and Earthquake Risk Atlas

Ground motion based on postulated magnitude 7.5 earthquake on the Madhupur Fault Latitude 23° 42 ′0″ N

Longitude 90° 22′ 30″ E

Ground motion is the measure of the amplitude

and period of seismic waves once it arrives at

the earth’s surface.* Higher ground motion may bring higher damage or impact

*(Disaster R

isk Managem

ent Online Program

, Global Faciltiy for D

isaster Reduction and R

ecovery, 2011)

Bangladesh is exposed to significant seismic risk due to its proximity to the seismically active tectonic plates. A Magnitude 7.5 event on the Madhupur fault and a Magnitude 8 event on the Plate Boundary 2 fault have the greatest impact on the city of Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital.

The Madhupur fault event is to the north of the city. Ground motions generally decrease from north to south and are amplified in areas of soft soil. The Plate Boundary 2 fault is to the east of the city and ground motions decrease going east to west.

Intensity VIII• Bengal Earthquake, 1885. Magnitude 7• Great Indian Earthquake, 1897. Magnitude 8.1

Intensity VII• Srimangal Earthquake, 1918. Magnitude 7.6

Intensity VI (intensity where structural damage begins to occur)• 1923, Magnitude 7.1• 1934, Magnitude 8.1• 1935, Magnitude 6.0• 1943, Magnitude 7.2• 2001, Magnitude 5.1

What earthquakes have impacted Dhaka?

136.37sq km

Population

6.54million

91wards

Building Structures

327,503

Dhaka

Buriganga River

Peak Ground Acceleration (g)with Soil Amplification

Very Strong

Severe

0.216

0.471

Fire Station

Hospital

Police Station

School

¨Kca

W E

S

N

The data used in the brochure was shared to the Bangladesh Urban Earthquake Resilience Project (BUERP) courtesy of RAJUK in 2013

US$5.7 billionestimated losses

estimated damaged buildings

180,000

Earthquakes and Megacities InitiativePuno Building, 47 Kalayaan Avenue, Diliman,

Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines 1101T/F: +632 9279643; T: +632 4334074

www.emi-megacities.org EMI © 2013

Bangladesh Urban Earthquake Resilience Project

EARTHQUAKE RISK IN DHAKA

www.emi-megacities.orgA Member of the U.N. Global Platform for

Disaster Risk Reduction

50,000

over

fatalities

&200,000injured

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Implementation and enforcement of the building codes will ensure that buildings will protect their occupants and reduce damages and losses.

Understanding of hazards and risks can inform land use plans and zoning ordinances to build away from hazardous areas and reduce exposure to earthquakes.

Training of architects, engineers, planners, and construction professionals will improve standards for earthquake-resilient construction, thus protecting people and property.

Knowledge of hazards and risks by the general public will raise awareness and build social responsibility and social resilience.

How a magnitude 7.5 earthquake will affect the world’s densest megacity

Implementation of Building Codes

Risk-Sensitive Land Use Plans

!

Competency Building

Awareness Raising Expected losses from a postulated magnitude 7.5 earthquake on the Madhupur Fault

February 2014

For more information on where to get a copy of the Dhaka Profile and Earthquake Risk Atlas, contact:

Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change UnitSouth Asia Sustainable Development Department

The World Bank Office DhakaPlot E 32, Sher-e-bangla Nagar, Agargaon

Phone: 880-2-8159001-28

Having competent Emergency Management plans, drills, exercises and trainings for first responders.

Improving Response

136.37sq km

Bangladesh

Dhaka

Population

6.54million

Latitude 23° 42 ′0″ N Longitude 90° 22′ 30″ E

Ground motion is the measure of the amplitude

and period of seismic waves once it arrives at

the earth’s surface.** Higher ground motion may bring higher damage or impact

91wards

Commercial19, 225 (5.86%)

Institutional6, 308 (1.85%)

Industrial9, 651 (2.95%)

Residential266, 486 (81.44%)

Others25, 833 (7.90%)

327,503*there are

*based on RAJUK Dataset

Building Structures in Dhaka

**(Disaster Risk Management Online Program, Global Faciltiy for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, 2011)

Bangladesh is exposed to significant seismic risk due to its proximity to the seismically active tectonic plates. A Magnitude 7.5 event on the Madhupur fault and a Magnitude 8 event on the Plate Boundary 2 fault have the greatest impact on the city of Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital.

The Madhupur fault event is to the north of the city. Ground motions generally decrease from north to south and are amplified in areas of soft soil. The Plate Boundary 2 fault is to the east of the city and ground motions decrease going east to west.

Intensity VIII• Bengal Earthquake, 1885. Magnitude 7• Great Indian Earthquake, 1897. Magnitude 8.1

Intensity VII• Srimangal Earthquake, 1918. Magnitude 7.6

Intensity VI (intensity where structural damage begins to occur)

• 1923, Magnitude 7.1• 1934, Magnitude 8.1• 1935, Magnitude 6.0• 1943, Magnitude 7.2• 2001, Magnitude 5.1

Topography of the area surrounding the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta (banglapire.org)

What earthquakes have impacted Dhaka?

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.

Physical RiskSocio-Economic Impact RiskCombined Risk

Urban Disaster Risk Index

For more information: Dhaka ProfileBackgroundPhysical and Socio-economic Profile Components• Political• Physical • Socio-cultural• Built Environment

Chapter

1 Earthquake HazardsBangladesh TectonicsHistorical Seismic ActivityModeled SourcesSoil ClassificationPeak Ground Accelerations Liquefaction

Chapter

2

Vulnerability DefinitionPhysical Vulnerability• Building Exposure and

Inventory • Buildings Vulnerability• Building Losses• Lifelines• Essential Facilities

Social Vulnerability• Casualties• Population Affected• Economic and

Property LossesRisk DefinitionPhysical Risk IndicatorsSocio-Economic Impact Factors

Earthquake Vulnerability and Risk AnalysisChapter

3Chapter

4Buriganga River

Peak Ground Acceleration (g)with Soil Amplification

Very Strong

Severe

0.216

0.471

Fire Station

Hospital

Police Station

School

¨Kca

W E

S

NThe data used in the brochure was shared to the Bangladesh Urban Earthquake

Resilience Project (BUERP) courtesy of RAJUK in 2013