Shortage of evacuation spaces for earthquake disaster in Pokhara Metropolitan City, Nepal

Abstract

Earthquakes, as one of the most destructive natural hazards, pose significant threats to human lives and infrastructure. The aftermath of an earthquake often results in cascading events, including structural damages, floods, and landslides, leading to considerable loss of life and property. Factors influencing the severity of these disasters include population density, construction standards, and emergency preparedness. Effective emergency preparedness aims to minimize these losses during natural disasters. This research aimed at identifying and assessing the open public spaces available in three sampled wards – 1, 7 and 17 of Pokhara Metropolitan City. This research focused on the critical issues of earthquake preparedness in the city of Pokhara, a region at high risk of seismic activity. The study employed various research methods such as focus group discussions, questionnaire surveys, and map surveys to collect the data. ArcGIS was employed for assessing of the open spaces and mapping purposes. Despite being among the 20 most disaster-prone countries globally, Nepal lacks robust governance for disaster preparedness, particularly in Pokhara. Results revealed significant disparities in open space availability and holding capacities among the selected wards, with ward no. 17 having the lowest open space area followed by ward no. 1 and 7 relatively. Those wards have a total of 156,657.41 m2, 566,320 m2 and 84,103.29 m2 respectively. There was good road access to the most of the open spaces. However, basic facilities such as public toilets and drinking water are lacking in many areas. The findings also emphasize the need for policy review, careful selection of open spaces, maintenance of basic facilities, and the development of emergency evacuation plans. Public awareness campaigns are also recommended to sensitize residents of Pokhara about potential natural disasters, mitigation measures, and evacuation plans. This study contributes valuable insights to the broader field of disaster management and urban planning, particularly in earthquake-prone regions.