At least 38 buildings downtown Bucharest out on a limb in case of earthquake

38 buildings hosting 87 flats accommodating 200 people downtown Bucharest are ranked as public danger in case of earthquake because they are registered in class one seismic risk category. 12 such buildings are located on well-known central boulevard, Calea Victoriei, Bucharest General Mayor Gabriela Firea said Wednesday. “There are 774 buildings overall with high seismic risk, 183 ranked as first seismic risk, 318 second seismic risk and 94 third seismic risk. The buildings have been expertized during 1990-1996,” Firea told a press conference.

“In the downtown areas, the seismic resistance assessment of buildings under public or mixed ownership looks like follows: class one seismic risk category, public danger: 38 buildings of 87 housing units occupied by 200 tenants; class one seismic risk category, no danger: 11 buildings; class two seismic risk category: 6 buildings. 12 buildings have the red bullet sign for high risk of collapse and are ranked in the public danger category; in terms of class one seismic risk category, no danger: one building; class two — three buildings; class three — two buildings,” Firea added.

The mayoress announced that emergency procedures had kicked off for the consolidation of the buildings in the high-risk areas, but they also have to undergo expert testing.

Firea also informed that she is eyeing a body that should exclusively take care of these buildings’ consolidation. “I will put up the resolution of setting up such an authority in the next meeting in September. We found RON 13 M this year and another RON 20 M from the state budget, plus another RON 4.5 M. I also met Raed Arafat (secretary of state for emergency situation within the Interior Ministry) and we agreed on joint actions,” Firea informed.

The lady mayor of Bucharest also revealed that the consolidation works are first scheduled for the Historical Center of the Capital and on Calea Victoriei.