A new study has uncovered a hidden factor behind the devastating impact of earthquakes in suburban areas migration. Researchers at the University of Washington found that workers moving from rural regions to city outskirts often live in low-quality housing, making them more vulnerable to destruction when a major quake strikes.
The study, published in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, analyzed the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan, which killed over 2,400 people. Surprisingly, the most severe damage was not in city centers but in suburban areas where migrants had settled. Similar patterns were observed in past earthquakes in China, Chile, and Nepal.
Lead researcher Tzu-Hsin Karen Chen explained that many migrants do not officially update their residence, leading to underestimation of disaster risk in those regions. Their housing often lacks structural integrity, increasing fatalities when tremors hit. The research team used a migration model to track population movement and confirmed that a rise in migration from low-income and tribal areas correlates with higher disaster fatalities.
The findings highlight the need for emergency management agencies to factor in migration trends when assessing earthquake risks. Experts warn that without improved housing policies and better disaster planning, urban fringe areas worldwide will continue to bear the brunt of future earthquakes.