Earthquakes, tremors harm 27 buildings in Syria’s Rif Dimashq
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The Public Safety Committee in Rif Dimashq Governorate, southern Syria, during inspections of cracked and ramshackle buildings that continued until Tuesday, monitored 27 cracked buildings in the town of Harasta.
The head of the local council in Harasta, Munther al-Shalleh, told the pro-government al-Watan newspaper that five of those buildings will be completely demolished, while portions of the remaining ones will be removed to be renovated.
On February 8, Syria’s National Earthquake Center announced recording an earthquake of a 4.3 magnitude and 30 km deep on the Syrian-Lebanese border at 09:58 pm (GMT+3).
On February, 6, devastating earthquake hit southern Turkey and northwest Syria, killing thousands and injuring much more, in addition to devastating thousands buildings under which thousands were trapped.
Since then, people across Syria have felt aftershocks every now and then, causing many buildings to collapse.
Al-Shalleh noted that some buildings have cracked portions such as columns, balconies, or some walls, and they will be removed in a way that does not affect their structural integrity.
He stressed that all buildings that will be completely demolished are uninhabited.
Two days ago, the committee, after assessing the buildings in the industrial city of Adraa, evacuated three buildings from its residents, which were found to be cracked and in need of renovation, according to al-Shalleh.
The head of the local council in Adraa, Khader al-Sha’rani, told al-Watan that 23 families had lived in the evacuated buildings, as they were able to secure alternative housing with their friends or relatives.
Initial indications of the economic losses caused by the earthquake in Syria indicate that it will be “large and extended in time” due to the multiplicity and nature of the damage, as it is not limited to collapsed residential buildings only, but also includes unsafe buildings that are about to fall, and the harm caused to public and private properties.
On Feb. 8, the Syrian Governorate of Rif Dimashq announced a building collapsed in the town of Harasta in Rif Dimashq.
Governor of Rif Dimashq, Safwan Abu Sadaa, said, “The building was one of dilapidated ones and was not suitable for housing. Undoubtedly, tremors are a main reason behind the collapse of the building.”