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Earthquake epicenter near Yerevan may result in disaster, seismologist says
tert.am
14:13 - 15.08.12
The seismic activity in the region is interconnected, seismologist
Vladimir Balasanyan told Tert.am, speaking about the recent disastrous
earthquakes that hit the region.
The specialist said he does not know whether the seismic activity will
end by the occurred three earthquakes that hit Turkey, Azerbaijan and
Iran, or be followed by the fourth . In case the fourth quake strikes
Armenia, near the capital, in particular, the 80 percent of the total
residential fond will collapse. `It means we will face all-national
disaster and will not be able to `digest' it,' he said, adding that at
least one third of Armenia's population is focused in the capital.
The expert said in spite of the wide-scale construction of elite
buildings in the capital, about 70-80 percent of buildings in Yerevan
are of the soviet era.
Asked to assess the seismic resistance of the new buildings, the
expert advised to apply to the Yerevan City Hall. Balasanyan said the
elite buildings in the capital are very dense. It is not only a
violation of urban development norms but safety norms as well. People
will not be able to escape from the multi-storeyed blocks of flats
built so close to each other.
The expert offered the authorities to treat the seismic issues more
seriously and fortify the buildings. In 90s the buildings were
fortified in Vanadzor and Yerevan.
Pilot programs on fortification of buildings were carried out
previously but their financing was suspended.
Head of National Seismic Defense Service Hrach Petrosyan told Tert.am
the figures presented by Balasanyan are far from being a reality. He
claimed that Balsanyan has nothing to do with buildings, he is a
seismologist, `let him deal with seismology.'
From: Baghdasarian
tert.am
14:13 - 15.08.12
The seismic activity in the region is interconnected, seismologist
Vladimir Balasanyan told Tert.am, speaking about the recent disastrous
earthquakes that hit the region.
The specialist said he does not know whether the seismic activity will
end by the occurred three earthquakes that hit Turkey, Azerbaijan and
Iran, or be followed by the fourth . In case the fourth quake strikes
Armenia, near the capital, in particular, the 80 percent of the total
residential fond will collapse. `It means we will face all-national
disaster and will not be able to `digest' it,' he said, adding that at
least one third of Armenia's population is focused in the capital.
The expert said in spite of the wide-scale construction of elite
buildings in the capital, about 70-80 percent of buildings in Yerevan
are of the soviet era.
Asked to assess the seismic resistance of the new buildings, the
expert advised to apply to the Yerevan City Hall. Balasanyan said the
elite buildings in the capital are very dense. It is not only a
violation of urban development norms but safety norms as well. People
will not be able to escape from the multi-storeyed blocks of flats
built so close to each other.
The expert offered the authorities to treat the seismic issues more
seriously and fortify the buildings. In 90s the buildings were
fortified in Vanadzor and Yerevan.
Pilot programs on fortification of buildings were carried out
previously but their financing was suspended.
Head of National Seismic Defense Service Hrach Petrosyan told Tert.am
the figures presented by Balasanyan are far from being a reality. He
claimed that Balsanyan has nothing to do with buildings, he is a
seismologist, `let him deal with seismology.'
From: Baghdasarian