June 3: Bhutan needs to establish a seismic network to help understand and minimize earthquake risks. This was revealed at a regional workshop on scientific seismic data sharing.

Seismologists and engineers from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the United States are attending a workshop on seismic data sharing in the region.

Frederick Simon, a UNESCO consultant, said since Bhutan lies in an earthquake risk zone, a seismic network is necessary. It will help understand and develop safe construction practices and earthquake reduction risks. He said the only way to get away from earthquake is to construct earthquake resistant buildings.

"The thing we try to do in these meetings is to encourage data exchange. But I think in Bhutan’s case it needs to consider establishing a permanent network and I also think there should be some portable stations that they can deploy in the potential damp sites or other locations. So I think the capability here needs to be upgraded," said Frederick Simon.

The Director General of the Department of Geology and Mines, Dorji Wangda said the department has plans to establish a seismic network. He said five trial seismic stations have been conducted in the past. He cited shortage of funds and manpower as some of the hindrances in establishing seismic network.

"One reason why we have not been able to set up this network before is we didn’t have institution who is mandated to do," said Dorji Wangda.

He said through this workshop they hope to come up with concrete decisions regarding the establishment of the network. The workshop is organized by UNESCO and the United States Geological Survey and Earth Science Organizations in the South Asian Region.