According to natural disaster management professor Efthymios Lekkas, the control will start from public buildings, such as schools, hospitals and other structures, where a large number of citizens gather.
“The control was established in 2002, without being mandatory”, emphasized the president of the Antiseismic Planning and Protection Organization. “Only 15% had been tested to date, with meager results,” he said characteristically.
Based on the new institutional framework, in the first phase the country’s buildings will be registered. Next, the TEE will gather the approximately 2,500 engineers, who will carry out the autopsies, in each building. Already, OASP has opened the platform for property registration and inspections. The buildings that will pass the primary inspection will continue their operation. For any problems found, a secondary audit will follow. “We estimate that in approximately 10-15% a secondary control will be carried out” said Mr. Lekkas. “The primary control will be completed in one year.”
“Although our country belongs to the countries with the highest seismic risk in Europe, nevertheless in Greece we have the smallest effects from earthquakes, almost all over the world” according to Mr. Lekkas. In the event of an earthquake, he asked everyone to follow the prescribed instructions and safety measures, without panic.
Reporting: Vassilis Masouras
Tags: Reg Lekkas earthquake risk Greece highest Europe AUDIO
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