The main shock of the week was probably yesterday's
earthquake. In a country that experienced an earthquake in 1988, such shocks are psychologically severe. Fortunately, there was no damage, but the effects of stronger earthquakes in the densely populated capital and regions with emergency buildings can be catastrophic.
As a result of years of buying illegal permits, the main walls of many buildings have been demolished, and annexes have been built to enlarge rooms, without taking into account seismic resistance and the risk of collapse.
The government has developed new construction norms, the fourth since the Spitak earthquake. This means that more attention will be paid to the seismic resistance of new buildings, but it is possible to strengthen those that have already become damaged.
