The ageing of Cyprus' building stock is one of the country's greatest challenges, Platonas Stylianou, First Vice President of the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK) and President of the European Council of Civil Engineers (ECCE) has said.
Speaking to CNA, Stylianou called for a national policy on the regular inspection, assessment and maintenance of buildings to strengthen the country's resilience to earthquakes.
Referring to the recent devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, Stylianou said they served as a reminder that seismic safety remains a concern for all countries located in earthquake-prone regions, stressing that major loss of life is often linked to the vulnerability of buildings rather than the earthquakes themselves.
He said buildings constructed after 2012 provide a high level of seismic protection, while those built between 1994 and 2011 offer significantly improved seismic performance compared with structures erected before 1994. Particular attention, he added, should be paid to buildings that were not designed in line with modern seismic standards.
"The passage of time, corrosion, environmental exposure – particularly in coastal cities where buildings are affected by sea salt – alterations carried out without proper engineering studies, and inadequate maintenance can all significantly reduce the resilience of existing structures, irrespective of when they were built," Stylianou said.
He said ETEK was calling for the adoption of a national policy providing for the regular inspection, assessment and maintenance of buildings across Cyprus.
Priority, he said, should be given to public buildings, schools, hospitals, apartment blocks and other structures that accommodate large numbers of people.
"International experience shows that major loss of life is not caused solely by earthquakes but by the vulnerability of buildings. This has also been demonstrated in Venezuela," Stylianou said.
"Prevention, scientific assessment, regular inspections and proper maintenance are the most effective way to strengthen Cyprus' resilience against future earthquakes," he added.
(Source: CNA)
