Evaluation program of seismic vulnerability of special and important sites of Yerevan approved in Armenia
YEREVAN, February 9. /ARKA/. Government of Armenia on Thursday approved the evaluation program of seismic vulnerability of the sites of special importance in Yerevan from the point of view of their seismic protection.
“The given program envisages evaluation of seismic vulnerability of five special and 25 important buildings located in different buildings of administrative districts of Yerevan”, said Deputy Minister of Extraordinary Situations of Armenia Haykaram Mkhitaryan in the government meeting.
He said that in the list of special buildings are included the building of the National Assembly, government, Ministry of Sport and Youth Issues, Police and Ministry of Extraordinary Situations of Armenia.
The program envisages also forecast of possible scenarios of these buildings in case of destructive earthquake.
“On the basis of evaluation results, proposals on seismic vulnerability and risk reduction of these buildings, increase of preparedness level of population, as well as reduction of possible consequences of earthquake will be developed”, he said.
The program says that analysis of consequences of destructive Spitak earthquake in 1988 in Armenia showed that the level of seismic vulnerability of the majority of buildings in the territory of the country is lower than the level of expected seismic threat, and actually the whole territory of the country is in the high risk zone.
The document also states that currently seismic risk in Armenia reached the maximum level during the whole history of the country. It is conditioned by the new cycle of seismic activeness, low seismic resistance of buildings and structures, high level of urbanization, insufficient attention towards buildings of special importance (chemical plants, hydro-power stations, thermal-power stations, multi-apartment buildings, dams, health facilities, life-support networks), as well as poor awareness of the society, socio-economic situation, etc. –0-
