Penang buildings can handle quakes of magnitude 7, says CM

 

Seismic effects are given consideration for critical buildings, but specific conditions for earthquake-resistant designs are not imposed, says a mayor. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Buildings and bridges in Penang were designed to handle earthquakes of up to magnitude 7 on the Richter scale, chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said today.

Separately, the mayors of the state’s two city councils said seismic effects were taken into consideration only for critical buildings such as power stations, dams and tall buildings like the Komtar commercial centre and office tower housing government offices.

Chow said Komtar and similar buildings as well as bridges “are built taking into consideration earthquakes of a certain level”.

An earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck Myanmar yesterday and affected neighbouring Thailand, with tremors felt in Cambodia and India, as well as several parts of Penang, including Komtar and George Town, and apartment buildings around Butterworth.

Tremors from earthquakes in Southeast Asia are often felt in Penang, but the island itself is not within the earthquake zone. However, Indonesia and the Philippines are part of the Pacific “ring of fire” for volcanic and seismic activity.

Penang Island City Council mayor A Rajendran said seismic effects are considered for construction projects, but specific conditions on earthquake-resistant designs are not strictly imposed.

He said a guideline prepared by the council and the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) has been provided to developers, architects, engineers and surveyors.

Rajendran said findings from an IEM study indicated that shorter, more rigid buildings are more susceptible to earthquake damage than taller structures, which are designed to flex under seismic forces.

Seberang Perai City Council mayor Baderul Amin Hamid said the council also does not impose requirements for earthquake-resistant designs of development projects.

“If such a condition were made compulsory, construction costs would rise significantly,” he said.

He added that Seberang Perai does not have tall buildings like Komtar or large dams, so the need for stringent seismic design requirements is less critical.

At least 1,002 people were killed and nearly 2,400 injured in Myanmar, with about 10 more deaths confirmed in Bangkok in yesterday’s earthquake, which struck near Mandalay.

Myanmar is located between the India and Eurasia tectonic plates, which places it at particular risk of earthquakes.

The boundary between the two plates is called the Saigang Fault, a long, straight line running approximately 1,200km from north to south through cities such as Mandalay and Yangon, placing millions of people at risk. - FMT