Tainan quake ushers in new era of housing regulations

2016/02/19

The recent magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck Tainan City highlights the need for regular housing inspections and enhanced building safety standards so as to minimize loss of life and property damage from future temblors.

“The importance of housing inspections is underscored by the fact that 115 of the 117 quake victims died in a collapsed apartment complex,” said Su Yu-te, a spokesman from New Taipei City Architects Association.

According to Su, initial evidence revealed “deadly” flaws in the building. “The government must heighten public awareness in this regard and enforce stricter building codes,” he said.

“Many lives could have been saved had these problems been identified during regular inspections and a program of rectifications carried out.”

Government statistics show that more than 8.6 million people live in 2.5 million buildings within 10 kilometers of an active fault line, with many of these structures aged over 30 years.

In the wake of the Feb. 6 temblor, the ROC Ministry of the Interior is offering inspection subsidies for 2,000 buildings constructed before regulations requiring higher earthquake-resistance capacities were introduced in May 1997.

The MOI said priority will be given to the six municipalities of Chiayi, Kaohsiung, Nantou, Pingtung, Taichung and Tainan given that a recent study by the Ministry of Science and Technology identifies the central and southern Taiwan region as more vulnerable to strong earthquakes.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs is also set to announce results of a nationwide survey identifying areas susceptible to soil liquefaction.

ROC President-elect Tsai Ing-wen said after she takes office May 20, her government will prioritize a comprehensive review of all structures built or designed more than 18 years ago. She also called for stricter supervision and inspection procedures, as well as a more coordinated national disaster response system.

To date, rescue workers saved 289 individuals from damaged buildings and the public donated NT$900 million (US$27.1 million).

Countries and territories around the world were also quick to extend a helping hand. The governments of Japan, South Korea and the U.S. offered US$1 million, US$100,000 and US$500,000, respectively, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Mainland Affairs Council said donations pledged from the other side of the Taiwan Strait stands in excess of NT$73 million.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=242329&ctNode=2194&mp=9)