A sense of fear, apprehension and apprehension continues among residents, who must remain vigilant given the constant movement of the earth following the 5.1 magnitude earthquake that struck the site on Sunday, January 15.
Some get used to these events that also make El Salvador known as “the land of hammocks” due to their frequency, others cannot keep calm and it is common to hear cries of “oh, oh, it’s shaking”, which sometimes become followed by tears and other exclamations and praises to the Divine.
Experts estimate that this is within the realm of possibility, as not only do people suffer from damage to their homes or the loss of loved ones, the fear of shock also impacts mental health.
Salvadorans and those arriving from abroad live in a highly earthquake-prone country that has seen more than 70 devastating earthquake movements over the past four centuries — in addition to countless aftershocks — causing damage to homes and buildings, as well as a significant number of people left behind by loss of human life.
The populace has had to gradually adjust to these realities, although it is difficult to ignore the mental health blow and associated psychological impact.
Tremors and earthquakes cause panic, they are traumatic and uncontrollable events that threaten our physical and psychological integrity, and this leads to mental health changes in both the short and long term. People are prone to confusion, fear, a state of unreality, shock and hysteria, experts say.
The fear of an earthquake is a psychological reaction that occurs in the face of risk or threat, since it is something that cannot be controlled and therefore nothing can be done to avoid it.
In Ahuachapán, some neighbors exemplify this reality. “We’ve removed things, the bed, the closets, the pans because we’re scared of being in the house, a mean tremor that’s going to happen and the house could come down. Here in the patio we improvised what we call sleeping with the champitas,” says local Ervin Arana.
Others are less fortunate and suffer the consequences of unforeseen shocks. If they don’t die in the collapses, they suffer serious injuries and blows, others remain buried.
More screams of oh oh, it’s shaking!
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