Earthquakes can cause instantaneous destruction without warning, producing extensive and often irreparable damage to cultural heritage (Erturk 2004: 243). This poses a major threat to cultural institutions and their cultural heritage collections, as earthquakes cannot be prevented, and magnitudes are completely unpredictable, resulting in major loss or damage. Developing an emergency response plan with a particular focus on earthquake preparation and response measures can mitigate the impact of earthquakes and reduce the risk of damage to buildings and cultural heritage.

Earthquake damage can be catastrophic, resulting in severe damage and loss. Some risks include the structural collapse, shift or damage of buildings, the breaking or displacement of cultural heritage collections, and the destruction of municipal and transport infrastructures, which can potentially impair the implementation of emergency response procedures. Earthquakes can also affect a...