How to stay safe during an earthquake: A visual guide

What the report says

Al Jazeera published a visual guide on 13 August 2026 explaining how people can reduce injury risk before, during and after an earthquake. The piece frames earthquake safety as a matter of preparation as much as response, noting that fast-moving events can become more dangerous when furniture, glass, utilities and debris are not managed in advance.

The guide recommends checking homes, workplaces and schools for hazards, securing tall furniture to walls, placing heavy or fragile items on lower shelves, and learning how to shut off gas, electricity and water. It also advises keeping an emergency survival kit within reach with basic supplies such as water, non-perishable food, first aid items, a flashlight, batteries, a radio, medicines, a power bank, documents, cash and sturdy shoes.

For the shaking itself, the article emphasizes staying indoors if already inside and using the “Drop, Cover, Hold On” approach under sturdy furniture, while avoiding windows and falling objects. It also gives scenario-based advice for people in shops, schools, cars, outdoors or elevators, stressing that the safest action depends on where a person is when the quake begins.

After the shaking stops, the guide says to check for injuries, watch for aftershocks, gas leaks, fires and damaged wiring, and use phones sparingly so networks stay available for emergencies. The advice aligns with widely used disaster-preparedness guidance from public safety agencies, though the article presents it as a practical public-service overview rather than a breaking news report.