Schools to undergo priority seismic reinforcement

Schools with a high seismic risk are to undergo seismic reinforcement with priority.

Roxana Vasile, 22.02.2023, 13:50

The recent devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, as well as a series of small tremors recorded recently in southern Romania have put the spotlight on the problem of seismic reinforcement of buildings, an issue that hasnt been addressed in decades. Following the first meeting of a newly created interministerial committee to assess seismic risk, it was decided that schools, hospitals and public buildings at risk in the event of a high magnitude earthquake will undergo priority structural consolidation works, as part of a government programme adopted by emergency order. Prime minister Nicolae Ciucă explains:

“The priority objectives at the moment are the education ministry infrastructure buildings, namely schools and other buildings where education activities are held, as well as hospitals and public buildings with a large number of employees.”

39 education ministry buildings are listed with the highest degree of seismic risk, 21 of which host school activities. 15 host classrooms and labs. Education minister Ligia Deca already announced that some of the school inspectors in the counties where such buildings can be found have identified alternative venues for holding classes. Development minister Cseke Attila said his ministry received funding requests for the consolidation of 366 buildings, all of which will be assessed in a week. He said an assessment will also be finalised of the damages caused by the recent earthquakes that took place in Gorj county, where two experts were sent. Cseke Attila:

“I asked for an assessment of the damages caused to be finalised as soon as possible, to see, at the level of the local authorities, whether in Târgu Jiu or other administrative regions, what buildings were affected and what are the measures or the support, the financial resources needed to solve the situation of these buildings.”

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake occurred on 13th February in Gorj county, where there isnt normally much seismic activity, followed by a second, 5.7 magnitude tremor the following day. According to the National Research and Development Institute for Earth Physics, more than 800 seismic events have been recorded ever since in the area, with 171 recorded on a single day on 17th February. (CM)