Earthquake Risk Severity and Urgent Need for Disaster Management in Afghanistan

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Manuscript number: Geohazards-3471406

Title: Earthquake Risk Severity and Urgent Need for Disaster Management in Afghanistan

The paper is in the field of earthquake risk management policies, with a focus on Afghanistan.   

 Afghanistan is located on the Eurasian tectonic plate's edge, a highly seismically active region. It is bordered by the northern boundary of the Indian plate and influenced by the collisional Arabian plate to the south. The Hindu Kush and the Pamir Mountains in Afghanistan are part of the western extension of the Himalayan orogeny and have been uplifted and sheared by the convergence of the Indian and Eurasian plates. These tectonic activities have generated numerous active deep faults across the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region, many of which intersect Afghanistan, resulting in frequent high-magnitude earthquakes. This tectonic interaction produces ground shaking of varying intensity, from high to moderate and low, with the epicenters often located in the northeast and extending southwest across the country. This study maps Afghanistan's tectonic structures, identifying the most active geological faults and regions with heightened seismicity. Historical earthquake data were reviewed, and recent destructive events were incorporated into the national earthquake dataset to improve disaster management strategies. Additionally, the study addresses earthquake hazards related to building and infrastructure design, offering potential solutions and directions to mitigate risks to life and property.

The article is written concisely, and clearly, and summarizes the results of a substantial volume of information. The statements are correctly supported with results and explanations.

I recommend the authors to complete the article with information about:

-        Please expand the state-of-the-art part, especially with relevant papers about risk management policies

-        Please present more urbanistic information regarding the case-study area(s), not only about seismicity

-        Please provide details about the specific construction methdos, type of buildings, architecture etc. (chapter 2.5 Construction Vulnerability Against Earthquake)

-        Please provide much more information about chapter 2.6

-        Please clearly state the limitations of the presented work

-        Please state clearly the opportunity for the research work and your personal contribution. 

 

I do recommend the paper for publication after the consideration of the minor revisions because it presents important original information.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Thank you very much for taking the time to review and edit my manuscript. I sincerely appreciate your detailed feedback and constructive suggestions. I have revised the paper in response to your comments and attached a document outlining my step-by-step responses. For your convenience, all changes in the revised manuscript have been highlighted in red.

Thank you again for your invaluable input.

Best regards,
Noor

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear authors,

your paper is a very interesting research, and I have some suggestions for you:

The manuscript would benefit from smoother section transitions and more concise paragraphs to enhance readability.

The introduction should clearly define the research gap, highlight its contributions, and distinguish it from previous studies.

The methodology section needs more details on data collection processes, selection criteria, and the analytical methods used.

In discussing historical earthquakes, it should be clarified how recent seismic events (post-2022) are incorporated into the analysis.

Recommendations for disaster risk management should include practical implementation strategies and case studies from comparable regions (see this reference - Cvetković, V. M. (2020). Disaster Risk Management. Scientific-Professional Society for Disaster Risk Management.)

Figures and maps should be higher resolution, properly labeled, and integrated with brief explanatory text for context.

The socioeconomic vulnerability analysis should present quantitative data on population risk, economic losses, and the impact of urbanization.

The section on construction vulnerability should provide concrete recommendations for earthquake-resistant housing and code enforcement.

Some sections contain overly technical language and should be simplified to ensure accessibility for a broader audience.

Citations should follow a consistent format and reference the most up-to-date studies.

The governance discussion should explore aspects such as international aid, community-based preparedness, and a national risk communication strategy.

The conclusion should be more concise, summarizing key findings while emphasizing areas for future research.

Warm regards

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Thank you very much for taking the time to review and edit my manuscript. I sincerely appreciate your detailed feedback and constructive suggestions. I have revised the paper in response to your comments and attached a document outlining my step-by-step responses. For your convenience, all changes in the revised manuscript have been highlighted in red.

Thank you again for your invaluable input.

Best regards,
Noor

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Review Report - Earthquake Risk Severity and Urgent Need for Disaster Management in Afghanistan

By Noor Ahmad Akhundzadah

 

The manuscript provides a comprehensive analysis of Afghanistan's seismic vulnerability, focusing on its tectonic structures, historical earthquake occurrences, and the necessity of improved disaster management strategies. The paper effectively combines geological, geophysical, and socio-economic perspectives to highlight key earthquake-prone areas and propose practical risk mitigation measures. 

The study presents a thorough examination of Afghanistan’s seismic risks. The discussion on disaster management strategies is particularly relevant, providing actionable recommendations for policymakers. The manuscript effectively communicates the urgency of implementing structural reinforcements and early warning systems to mitigate earthquake impacts.

The hypothesis that Afghanistan’s high seismic activity necessitates immediate disaster preparedness is well-supported. The research methodology, which includes historical earthquake data, fault mapping, and vulnerability assessments, is scientifically sound. The study’s findings align with recent literature on seismic risks in the region. However, expanding the discussion on regional variations in disaster preparedness and addressing potential implementation barriers for proposed solutions would further strengthen the paper.

The literature review is comprehensive, incorporating relevant and recent references. The study successfully bridges the gap between geological research and practical disaster risk management. The discussion on earthquake-resistant infrastructure and early warning systems is particularly valuable. The conclusions drawn are well-supported by the presented data, and the recommendations provide a clear roadmap for enhancing earthquake resilience in Afghanistan.

Minor Comments

• The discussion on socio-economic factors affecting earthquake vulnerability is insightful. Including specific case studies of past earthquakes and their socio-economic impacts would add further context.

• The proposed disaster management strategies are relevant. Discussing potential barriers to implementation, such as financial and governance challenges, would be a valuable addition.

This paper is a significant contribution to the field of geohazards and disaster risk management.Strengthening the discussion on regional differences in earthquake vulnerability, implementation challenges for risk reduction measures, and additional case study comparisons would further enhance its impact.

Best regards,

The reviewer

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Thank you very much for taking the time to review and edit my manuscript. I sincerely appreciate your detailed feedback and constructive suggestions. I have revised the paper in response to your comments and attached a document outlining my step-by-step responses. For your convenience, all changes in the revised manuscript have been highlighted in red.

Thank you again for your invaluable input.

Best regards,
Noor

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear authors,

Thank you for your improvements.

Kind regards