It now appears that
according to JIE (Jamaica Institute of Engineers), if a magnitude 8.8
earthquake were to strike the Corporate Area, 70% of the buildings would be
destroyed or demolished as stated in the article “Earthquake
Fright” published Tuesday, March 2nd 2010 by Patrick Forrester, The Jamaica Observer.
President Michele
Bachelet of Chile called the catastrophic 8.8 magnitude earthquake and the
subsequent tsunami to hit the Chilean coast “an emergency without parallel in
Chile’s history” as stated in the article “Chile troops,
police attack post-quake looters”, published Tuesday, March 2nd 2010, The Jamaica Observer.
Looting in the streets is
uncontrollable by the Chilean authorities and after a death toll of 723 with
approximately 19 missing, numbers expected to rise, as one can almost taste the
fear in the capital, Concepcion.
But that spine tingling
feeling is beginning to be felt in the backs of many Jamaicans, particularly in
Kingston.
This is not good.
Jamaica National Building Code is over 102 years
old – Port Royal was the last major Earthquake
Before I launch into my
usual tirade, especially as I was unaware of the fact that there was even a JIE
(I am a contributor to the IEEE, for the record!), much less they had members,
I am still confused why people still seem to focus on the capital city, as if
that is where all of Jamaica lives.
Aside from this, my usual
complaint, this bit of information has me worried – not to mention being
thankful that do not live in Kingston. This disclosure, which was made at the
Observer’s Weekly Monday Exchange meeting, was further made worse by yet
another shocking and horrifying disclosure by Noel Dacosta.
Noel Dacosta, who is Chairman
and member of the JIE Building Code Committee states that the current JS
217: Jamaica National Building Code is over 102 years old, only last being
amended since 1908, which was after the earthquake in 1907 when Kingston was
destroyed.
Amazingly, after that an
attempt was made in 1983, or three (3) years before Hurricane Gilbert, to have
the Building Code amended, but again was not completed, only ending up as a
Policy Document.
But it gets interesting.
JIE updates the Building Code – Government yet to
implement their recommendations
The JIE, to the tune of
JA$260 million, undertook their own attempt at revising the Building Code in
2003 and ironically have actually completed it this year and placed it at the
doorstep of Parliament, awaiting approval, just in time for the earthquake in
Haiti, hence their offering of help to that Haitians.
Thus, ironically, if
Haiti were to get this Building Code, their buildings would be at a more
earthquake resistant and modern standard than ours in Jamaica! Granted the
legal paperwork on the Building Code has not yet been completed, with the
recent earthquakes since the start of the year.
One would have assumed
that the Government of Jamaica would have moved with increased haste to have
this new Building Code implemented. According to Noel Dacosta, the New
National Building Code of Jamaica was a “gift” to the Government of
Jamaica, as they had not been asked to do it.
The JIE was not only
being forward thinking, but somewhat embracing a philosophy almost akin to Open
Source in Information Technology. It does not help much either as he further
comments that “it hasn’t even gone to Cabinet for a submission to be made”.
Ports and Airports would be destroyed in an
Earthquake - Big One is coming soon
Aside from the Building
Code, the learned John Public will make note of the fact that during this
question and answer session, the JIE also pointed out that which was also
obvious: the dismal state of our local infrastructure.
This is not much better
than our Social and Economic situation as stated in the article “Earthquake
Fright” published Tuesday, March 2nd 2010 by Patrick Forrester, The Jamaica Observer.
Dr. Wayne Reid, an
executive member of the JIE, pointed out that the current infrastructure that
the Government of Jamaica is fixing is mostly ports and airports, which are
mostly getting attention as they are gateways of international access and
pressure is being placed on the Government of Jamaica to have these infrastructure
fixed.
Thus John Public is left
to wonder with all of this disorder and chaos in the Social, Economic and
Infrastructure of Jamaica, what would we do if an earthquake were to strike, as
it is already obvious that since the 1907 earthquake, we are 102 years overdue
for the next Big One.
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