Mexico school collapse spurs doubts over building code for quakes

Source(s): Thomson Reuters

By Daina Beth Solomon and Stefanie Eschenbacher

MEXICO CITY - The school collapse this week that killed at least 19 children during an earthquake has prompted many Mexicans to question whether building codes developed after a devastating 1985 temblor are too easily flouted.

Stringent codes enacted after a massive temblor killed thousands three decades ago minimized damage this week across the metropolis of 20 million people, even if experts say it is nearly impossible to design structures to withstand any quake.

At least 293 people died in Tuesday’s quake, measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale, but the toll could have been far worse.

Still, the collapse of some structures built under the new codes, including the Enrique Rebsamen school that became a symbol of this week’s tragedy, has sparked concerns over implementation of the rules.

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Hazards Earthquake
Country and region Mexico
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