Cyprus’ ageing building stock is one of the country’s most pressing challenges, a senior engineering official has warned, calling for a national policy on inspections and maintenance to strengthen earthquake resilience.
Platonas Stylianou, first vice president of the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK) and president of the European Council of Civil Engineers, told CNA that regular inspection, assessment and maintenance of buildings are essential to reduce seismic risk.
Referring to the recent earthquakes in Venezuela, Stylianou said they highlight that seismic safety remains a concern for countries in earthquake-prone regions. He stressed that loss of life is often linked more to the vulnerability of buildings than to the strength of the earthquakes themselves.
He noted that buildings constructed after 2012 offer a high level of seismic protection, while those built between 1994 and 2011 show significantly improved performance compared with older structures. Particular concern, he said, should focus on buildings not designed to modern standards.
"The passage of time, corrosion and environmental exposure, especially in coastal areas where sea salt affects structures, as well as unauthorised alterations and poor maintenance, can significantly reduce a building’s resilience, regardless of when it was built," Stylianou said.
ETEK is calling for a national policy framework to ensure regular inspections and systematic maintenance across Cyprus, he added.
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 building vulnerability. This has also been evident in Venezuela," he said.
"Prevention, scientific assessment, regular inspections and proper maintenance remain the most effective way to strengthen Cyprus’s resilience to future earthquakes," he added.
Source: CNA
