Expert: RA government must provide seismic stability of Yerevan buildingsJuly 7, 2011 - 17:53 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Instead of large-scale construction of new buildings in the North Avenue, the government of Armenia should spend money to provide seismic stability of buildings in Yerevan, according to Gurgen Namalyan , representative of National Seismic Protection Service. “Most of Yerevan buildings were constructed during the times of Soviet Union and may sustain 7 and 8- point earthquake,” Namalyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent. “However, after Spitak earthquake in 1988, experts assessed the level of seismic hazard in Armenia at 9 points, and Yerevan is situated within the seismic dangerous zone,” said the expert adding that especially nine-storey and five-storey stone buildings are dangerous. Namalyan noted that buildings constructed after 2000, may sustain strong earthquakes. “If we give a realistic assessment to the situation, most of buildings in the capital have exhausted physically and must be dismounted. However, it is impossible due to economic situation and we offer to apply special technologies to provide buildings seismic stability,” said the expert touching upon solutions seismologists offer related to seismic stability of buildings, adding that they already have such experience, particularly in Vanadzor and Shushi. “This method is very efficient, however we lack finances to implement the idea,” Namalyan said. Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. |