2,500 structures need urgent seismic retrofit in Kazakhstan

    By Meruert Nurgazinova
    According to Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Emergency Situations at the Kazakh Ministry of Internal Affairs, Vladimir Becker, 2,500 buildings across the country require a seismic retrofit.
    The announcement was made during a recent meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission on the Prevention and Liquidation (original – KNL) of Emergencies.
    2,500 buildings
    Participants at the meeting also discussed the present state of earthquake engineering in the country and its further strengthening in areas prone to earthquakes.
    “Over the period of 2010-2015, we modified 101 educational, 50 health and 100 production facilities across the country. However, 470 schools, 270 hospitals, 198 kindergartens, 1,046 public buildings and 511 industrial facilities still need urgent capital repairs and improvement,” Becker said.
    He added that old and dilapidated buildings, as well as facilities requiring overhauls are the real source of danger for citizens, especially in seismically-active regions of the country.
    In addition, it was also reported during the meeting that residential seismic strengthening has only been conducted in the South Kazakhstan Oblast, the Astana Times reports.