We extend our deepest sympathies to the peoples of Japan and Ecuador whose countries have experienced the devastating effects of powerful earthquakes over the past five days.

In the case of Japan, the southern island of Kyushu was struck by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake last Thursday, followed by a 6.2-magnitude tremor the following day, killing at least 42 people and forcing more than 150,000 into evacuation shelters.

Wire service reports have told us that at least 270,000 people are without water, gas has been cut off, and approximately 35,000 people were, up to yesterday, still without electricity across the affected area.

One of the most heartbreaking aspects of this tragedy is the fact that the authorities are still unable to determine if there are other fatalities. In fact, a Japanese Government official has been reported as saying that they “simply don’t know how many people were buried under landslides”.

Japan and the rest of the world were still reeling from that disaster when a 7.8 magnitude quake struck Ecuador on Saturday evening, killing at least 350 people and leaving a trail of ruin along that country’s Pacific Ocean coast.

Media reports quoted Ecuador President Rafael Correa as saying yesterday that the death toll would “surely rise, and in a considerable way”.

The damage to private property and vital infrastructure, including highways and an air traffic control tower, has been significant.

Our hope is that the international community will offer both countries as much help as is needed and that recovery – both economic and emotional – will be smooth, quick and painless.

Both events should be of great concern to us here in Jamaica, given that this island sits along the northern margin of the Caribbean Plate, thus making us vulnerable to earthquakes.

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has commendably been driving home the importance of people being prepared and has gone to the point of committing $1.24 million to fund workshops for teachers at schools that will be a part of the Jamaica Educational Seismograph Network (JAESN).

Under that programme, five schools – Jamaica College, Ardenne High, Mount Alvernia High, Immaculate Conception High, and the American International School of Kingston – have so far committed to having seismographs placed on their campuses.

The JAESN, we are told, will become a part of the global Seismographs in Schools Programme, managed by the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology based in the United States.

In addition to facilitating students learning how seismographs work, the programme will undoubtedly help the Earthquake Unit at the University of the West Indies by providing additional data.

That can only help, especially when one considers that last year approximately 231 earthquakes, albeit small, were recorded across the island.

We cannot stress enough the importance of preparedness because that, to some extent, will determine the scale of the damage that can occur during an earthquake. As the ODPEM often points out, the planning and execution of activities, such as earthquake drills, are important and can mean the difference between life and death.

We would suggest as well that in addition to all Jamaicans taking the ODPEM’s message seriously, the relevant authorities do what is necessary to assure themselves and the public that the country can respond effectively to any such event.