The good news for Chileans is that less than 1% of the 10,000 buildings three stories or taller, constructed since Chile’s 1985 earthquake, will have to be demolished as a consequence of the magnitude-8.8 Maule earthquake that struck on Feb. 27. The bad news is that the type of structural damage observed in many of the bearing-wall concrete frames of 12- to 26-story buildings is calling into question the effectiveness of Chile’s building code, which does not require confinement reinforcing steel for concrete members. A code change in the future is likely, say engineers who inspected the damaged areas.
Of the 10,000 buildings three stories or taller built since 1985 in the area affected by the Maule quake, there were 2,000 buildings nine stories or taller. The total number of collapsed buildings is roughly five, says Rene Lagos, owner of the Santiago-based structural firm that bears his name. There are another estimated 50 buildings that will have to be demolished, he adds.